On July 12, 2025, Pope Leo XIV received Sarah Mullally, the new Primate of the Anglican Communion, at the Vatican. This meeting, marked by prayer and mutual respect, provided an opportunity for the Holy Father to highlight the "new problems" that complicate the path toward Christian unity. It was not merely a diplomatic formality but a moment of deep dialogue about the doctrinal divergences that have intensified over recent decades.
Since the Second Vatican Council, ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Anglicans has seen significant progress, but also growing obstacles. Issues surrounding the ordination of women and the recognition of sacraments have become major stumbling blocks. In his address, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that these differences are not peripheral but touch the very heart of the Christian faith.
The Ordination of Women: A Fundamental Divide
One of the most sensitive points in the dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion is the ordination of women. Introduced gradually into Anglicanism from the 1970s onward, this practice culminated in the ordination of women bishops and, today, in the appointment of Sarah Mullally as Primate of Canterbury.
For the Catholic Church, the matter is definitively settled. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church recalls, the Church has no authority to confer priestly ordination on women, because this touches the very nature of the sacrament of Holy Orders. This position was reaffirmed by Pope John Paul II in his apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (1994), which states that this doctrine is to be held definitively by all the faithful.
The Bible itself, in Catholic tradition, is interpreted as reserving ministerial priesthood to men. St. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:12: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet" (NIV). However, other passages, such as Galatians 3:28, affirm the fundamental equality of all in Christ: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (NIV). These verses are often cited in ecumenical debates to highlight the diversity of interpretations.
The Anglican Position
The Anglican Communion, for its part, considers the ordination of women a legitimate development of tradition, based on a different reading of Scripture and church history. For Anglicans, pastoral ministry can be exercised by women, and this practice is seen as a sign of the times and a response to the call of the Holy Spirit.
Sarah Mullally, as a woman bishop and primate, embodies this vision. Her visit to the Vatican was therefore a powerful symbol, but also a reminder of the persisting differences. Pope Leo XIV, while warmly welcoming his sister in Christ, clearly indicated that these differences cannot be ignored in the quest for unity.
The Validity of Anglican Ordinations
Another point of contention is the validity of Anglican ordinations from a Catholic perspective. As early as 1896, Pope Leo XIII, in the bull Apostolicae Curae, declared Anglican ordinations "absolutely null and utterly void" due to a defect of form and intention. This position has not changed and remains a major obstacle to mutual recognition of ministries.
This means that, for the Catholic Church, Anglican bishops and priests are not ordained ministers in the sacramental sense. This difference has profound implications for the celebration of the Eucharist and other sacraments.
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