Archbishop Williams Represents Anglicans Worldwide at Pope’s Funeral

The world’s focus turned to the St. Peter’s Square this morning as the funeral for Pope John Paul II took place. Millions of people travelled from all across the world to take this final opportunity to pay tribute to the highly respected spiritual man, as his body is laid to rest.

From the UK, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, was joined by the head of 77-million strong worldwide Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, were in Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Archbishop Rowan is the first Archbishop of Canterbury to attend a papal funeral, and on behalf of the Anglican Communion, the Secretary General, the Revd Canon Kenneth Kearon; the Director of Ecumenical Affairs and Studies and Deputy Secretary General, the Revd Canon Gregory Cameron; the co-Chair of ARCIC, the Most Revd Peter Carnley; and the Rt Revd John Flack, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Representative to the Holy See and the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.

The attendance of both the Roman Catholic leader and the Anglican Church leader has highlighted the existing ties between the churches, which have been formed through the dedicated ecumenical efforts of Pope John Paul II. The Pope had contributed greatly in ensuring strong relationships were set up with three Archbishops of Canterbury, the late Lord Runcie, Lord Carey, and the Most Revd Rowan Williams.

In an interview with the BBC Radio 4 Today, Archbishop Rowan said his presence at the funeral was "a mark of the deep bonds of personal closeness and intimacy that have come to exist between the office of the Archbishop and the Papacy".

Many other Anglican leaders worldwide have sent their tributes to the Anglican Communion Office in London today. Archbishop Peter Akinola, the Primate of All Nigeria, highlighted Pope John Paul's leadership qualities. "He exemplified the unique life of Christ," he said. "...a man of peace, who loved justice and promoted ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue."

The Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane, the Primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, stressed the Pope's great concern for Africa. "We are particularly grateful for the attention he paid to Africa and the developing world during his papacy...we share the grief and loss of the Catholic Church at his passing."

The co-Chair of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and a member of the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), Archbishop Peter Carnley, Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, said he would remember the Pope as a person of profound spirituality and Christian conviction, and as a steady friend and supporter of ecumenical work.

"John Paul II," he said "was realistically aware of the challenges to overcome, but took the adventurous step in his encyclical Ut Unum Sint to invite other Churches to suggest ways in which his papal office might be made more amenable to other Christians."

In fact, the relationship between the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church has been challenged by some controversial issues going on in the Church in recent years, such as homosexual clergy, blessings for same-sex unions and women bishop consecrations. While the Roman Catholic Church has kept the traditional stance towards all of these topics, some members of the Anglican Church worldwide, especially those from US Episcopal Church, have shown a tendency to stray from the traditionally accepted biblical teachings.

Archbishop Rowan said to BBC Radio 4 Today, "I think there are a number of things which have divided us, which will continue to divide us at the institutional level.

"But the challenge at the moment in our world, in our culture, is two-fold - what can we recognise in each other which is authentic, and how do we together hold up that shared authenticity in the face of the world?"

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor added, "I think we have got to continually work out what more can we do together, how much more can we witness together, and how can the difficulties be faced, if possible overcome. If not we wait."

The Church of England Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, the Rt Revd Geoffrey Rowell, and his Suffragan Bishop the Rt Revd David Hamid, will attend the Pope’s funeral. In a letter expressing their condolences to the Dean and College of Cardinals of the Diocese of Rome reads, "treasure his vision of human dignity, his appeal for solidarity between races and religions, and his undying call for the human family to live in peace," adding that "All Christians have lost a great pastor and teacher, who was throughout his life concerned with the proclamation of the Christian Gospel."

During the Pope’s 26-year reign, he has strongly defended the orthodox Christian teachings based on the Scriptures in face of the growing liberal views. Even when the Anglican Church and other churches have started to recognise homosexual clergy and same-sex unions, the Pope urged Catholics to reach deep within their faith "to give credible and public witness to the defence of a respect for life in its every phase; to defend the religious education of their children, to protect the sanctity of marriage and family and to defend the name of God and the human and social values of the Christian religion."