From the Bishop of Wakefield
Sir, — Thank you for your coverage of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit to Rome in Pat Ashworth’s article (News, 16 March). The warm friendship between Pope Benedict XVI and the Archbishop has been evident both in Rome and when the Pope visited this country.
Pat Ashworth rightly refers also to the easy relationship between those working on the ground, among them Mgr Mark Langham at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Canon David Richardson at the Anglican Centre in Rome.
For nearly 50 years, since the Michael Ramsey’s archiepiscopate, the Centre, as a permanent presence in Rome, has been the focus and hub of Anglican-Roman Catholic relations. It provides a continuity that transcends changes in those who hold office as Pope or Archbishop of Canterbury.
Now is a good time both to celebrate its achievement and to mark its importance in the coming year as a new Archbishop will be exploring how he relates to the Holy See.
STEPHEN WAKEFIELD
Chairman of the Governors of the Anglican Centre in Rome
Bishop’s Lodge, Woodthorpe Lane
Wakefield WF2 6JL