Retirement of the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome

27 Jan 2025

The Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome (ACR) and Personal Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See, Archbishop Ian Ernest, completes his mandate at the end of January 2025, after which he and his wife Kamla will return to their homeland, Mauritius. On Friday 24 January, bishops, clergy and laity associated with the Anglican Centre, together with ecumenical colleagues and representatives of the Roman Curia and of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, gathered to honour Archbishop and Mrs Ernest.

The farewell celebration began with Vespers at the Papal Basilica of St Paul outside the Walls, and continued with a reception in the Anglican Centre. First Vespers of the solemnity of the Conversion of St Paul was sung by the monks of the St Paul’s, with Abbot Donato Ogliari OSB presiding. The Cardinal Archpriest of the basilica, Cardinal James Harvey, and the Church of England Primate of England, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell of York, offered greetings before the liturgy. The homily was delivered by the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the ACR, Bishop Michael Burrows of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, in Ireland. Archbishop Ernest delivered a short address before the final blessing. During the reception in the ACR after the liturgy, Bishop Burrows presented Archbishop Ernest with a specially commissioned icon of St Augustine of Canterbury.

On the morning of Saturday 25 January, Pope Francis received Archbishop and Mrs Ernest in private audience for a farewell visit. The Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, the official responsible for Anglican Communion affairs, Revd Fr Martin Browne OSB, and Bishop Burrows also participated in the audience. The Pope thanked the Archbishop for his dedicated service in Rome, encouraging him, even as he retires from public ministry, to always keep going forward. At the end of the meeting, the Pope led the recitation of the Our Father. Mrs Ernest, who is a graphic designer, presented the Pope with one of her works, an artistic depiction of the journey towards unity between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

Archbishop Ernest has served as Director of the ACR since October 2019. Prior to coming to Rome, he served as Bishop of Mauritius and as Primate of the Anglican Province of the Indian Ocean. He was awarded the Cross of St Augustine for services to the Anglican Communion by Archbishop Rowan Williams in 2008. In March 2019, he was made Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK), the highest rank or distinction of Mauritius’ civilian honours.