World Watches Canterbury, Pope Meet
Diocesan Press Service. April 6, 1966 [42-2]
"The world observes, history will remember."
Pope Paul VI, March 23, 1966, on the occasion of the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury
The attention of the Christian world, if not the whole world, was focused on Rome March 23 and 24 as the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Arthur Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, met with Pope Paul VI.
This was the first official visit of the head of the Anglican Church since Pope Boniface received Archbishop Arundel in 1397. In 1960 Dr. Geoffrey Francis Fisher, then Archbishop of Canterbury, paid and informal visit to Pope John XXIII.
The encounter between the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the spiritual leader of the world-wide Anglican Communion, was more than a courtesy call, for the Archbishop and the Pope met privately for over an hour to discuss mutual concerns and obstacles to unity as well as participating together in formal ceremonies.
As the Joint Declaration, made in the name of both spiritual leaders stated: "The encounter of 23rd March, 1966, marks a new stage in the development of fraternal relations, based upon Christian charity, and of sincere efforts to remove the causes of conflict and to reestablish unity.
"In willing obedience to the command of Christ who bade his disciples love one another, they declare that, with his help, they wish to leave in the hands of the God of mercy all that in the past has been opposed to this precept of charity."
In their statements both the Archbishop and Pope Paul VI recognized that "On the road to unity there are formidable difficulties of doctrine." Each, however, as their statement showed wanted to be able to consider such difficulties in a spirit of charity and understanding.
The two spiritual leaders also took concrete steps in this direction by announcing their intention to establish a series of dialogues between the two Communions; dialogues which would include not only theological matters but also matters of practical difficulties felt on either side.
Pope Paul VI and the Archbishop met three times. On March 23 there was a formal ceremony in the Sistine Chapel at which both men read their statements: Dr. Ramsey in English and Pope Paul in Latin. This was followed by an exchange of gifts. The Archbishop gave the Pope a collection of his writings and a gold pectoral chain and cross. Pope Paul, in turn, presented his guest with a 12th Century fresco of Christ and a complete series of 25 volumes containing the acts of all the Councils of the Roman Catholic Church through Vatican I (1869-70).
Later that day the Archbishop and Pope Paul VI talked privately for ninety minutes. On the following day, both spiritual leaders met at the Basilica of St. Paul-Outside-the- Walls for a common prayer service. The service began with an invocation to the Holy Spirit, followed by Scriptural readings alternately read by Roman Catholic and Anglican clerics. The initial prayer was intoned by Pope Paul VI and the final prayer read by the Archbishop. The service was concluded by the reading of the Joint Declaration in the name of both leaders, first in Latin and then in English.
Italians, Frenchmen, Germans, Belgians, Dutchmen and Britons were able to watch the historic meeting over a European television relay.
"Through such collaboration, by the grace of God the Father and in the light of the Holy Spirit, may the prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ for unity among his disciples be brought nearer to fulfillment, and with progress toward unity may there be a strengthening of peace in the world, the peace that only He can grant who gives 'the peace that passeth all understanding' together with the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That it may abide with all men forever," declared the Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Paul VI in ending their Joint Declaration.