Archbishop of York meets the Pope
The Guardian reports on the first meeting of the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu with Pope Benedict XVI.
When meeting the Pope it is customary to offer him a gift, and Benedict XVI has amassed many tokens of esteem. Tony Blair gave him a painting of the Catholic convert Cardinal Newman and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah presented him with a jewelled scimitar.When the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, met the pontiff he gave him the Holy Grail, a beer brewed in Masham, North Yorkshire.
It was the highlight of the archbishop's first trip to Rome to celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and to cement cordial relations between the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches.
The Rev Canon Robert Paterson, Sentamu's chaplain, said of the meeting and discussions of the Anglican Communion:
"We said, 'Nothing is broken. Lambeth is going ahead, Rowan [the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams] is fine and it's steady as she goes'." Vatican insiders said Williams and the Pope bonded immediately when they met in 2006. Both academics, they had read each other's books before their private audience and the Pope was delighted that Williams addressed him in German. "They had a three-hour lunch," said one source. "The Pope never has a three-hour lunch with anyone."
Read it all here.
I was impressed by what else Sentamu had to say:
"Anglicans always carry out their quarrels in public. The danger is we look more divided than we are. The joy is we talk about everything. I'm amazed people call Britain a secular country when 70% of people identify themselves as Christian and 90% believe in God.
"Christianity has become part of the furniture ... like a grand piano nobody plays any longer. I want the dust to be taken off and people to play music. The Anglican church will survive, but not for its own sake. Africa, Aids and bad governance are rampant. If the church concentrates on doctrine we will be in the minority. If Jesus were around he'd say to the church, 'Look after the poor.'"
...
"Italy is the starting point for asylum seekers but the UK is their final destination. We're seen as a caring island. Britain should be proud that it can contain everyone. I never thought I would think this way because I have always criticised the government on its immigration policies. Now I know where the battle is. We have to bring other EU nations up to our standards."
Posted by John B. Chilton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 29, 2008 9:04 AM
The Rev Canon Robert Paterson: "Nothing is broken".
If nothing is broken, then why the Windsor Report? Why the contentious Primates' Meetings? Why the extraordinary and unusual visits of Rowan Williams to Canada and the ECUSA House of Bishops? Why the boundary crossings? Why the ecclesiological chaos?
Things certainly seem like they are breaking down, if not outright broken.
Posted by Randy Muller![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 29, 2008 2:50 PM