European Anglican Bishops meet Pope Francis

On 17 and 18 October, the College of Anglican Bishops in Continental Europe (COABICE) gathered in Rome for their annual meeting. Since 2006, bishops of COABICE have met every year to consider in prayer and conversation the many issues and questions arising from their unique situation as representatives of multiple and sometimes overlapping Anglican jurisdictions, ministering throughout continental Europe in many different languages, contexts and cultures.

The bishops present were the Right Revd David Hamid of the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe (Church of England), the Right Reverend Carlos López Lozano of the Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain, the Right Reverend Jorge Pinas Cabral of the Lusitanian Church (Portugal) and the Right Reverend Mark Edington of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe (Episcopal Church, USA). The meeting was hosted at the Anglican Centre in Rome by the Most Reverend Ian Ernest, Personal Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See.

On Wednesday 19 October, the bishops visited the Vatican and were greeted by Cardinal Kurt Koch and Bishop Brian Farrell, Prefect and Secretary, respectively, of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. Accompanied by Reverend Father Martin Browne, OSB, newly responsible for relations with Anglicans, the bishops attended the General Audience of the Holy Father in St Peter’s Square. At the end of the audience, Pope Francis greeted the bishops individually.

^{Photo with Pope Francis © Vatican Media}