ROME, April 27 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally is to meet Pope Leo as both religious leaders continued to call for peace amid ongoing war, PA Media/dpa reported.
The first woman to hold the highest ministry of the Church of England and the leader of the world's Catholics will join for discussion and prayer at the Vatican on Monday.
Mullally, who is on her first pilgrimage to Rome since being formally enthroned in her new role in March, has described the historic event as a "joy and privilege."
The meeting comes at a time when the pope has faced scathing criticism from United States (US) President Donald Trump, who earlier this month branded the religious leader "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy" and demanded he "focus on being a great pope, not a politician."
The pontiff had used his first Easter message to strongly criticise war, calling on "those who have weapons (to) lay them down."
The pope doubled down on his comments following Trump's criticism, warning during his recent four-nation Africa tour that the world is being "ravaged by a handful of tyrants."
Mullally issued a statement at the time backing the pope's calls for peace.
She said she stood in solidarity with the pontiff "in his courageous call for a kingdom of peace" and urged "all those entrusted with political authority to pursue every possible peaceful and just means of resolving conflict."
Echoing this in a sermon in the Italian capital on Sunday, she said that in the world today instead of justice and peace being prioritised, there is "violence inflicted on innocent people in conflicts across the globe".
Addressing a congregation at the Episcopal church of St Paul's Within the Walls – the first non-Roman Catholic church to be built within the city's walls – she also highlighted the importance of speaking up for and defending "the dignity and worth of every human being," including refugees.
The purpose of her four-day visit is said by her office to be to "strengthen Anglican–Roman Catholic relations" and "aims to deepen bonds of communion, affirm a shared witness, and encourage ongoing collaboration at both global and local levels."
She will meet the Pope on Monday morning for private prayer and discussion, after which each will give an address.
Mullally made history when she was named the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, having also served as the first female Bishop of London.
While the Church of England first ordained women priests in 1994, women cannot become priests in the Catholic Church.
The archbishop will also join the Pope for midday prayer in the Chapel of Urban VIII within the Apostolic Palace.
She is accompanied on the trip by the Archbishop of Westminster, Richard Moth, who is the leader of Catholics in England and Wales.
-- BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa
