For the first time in its history, the spiritual guide of the “Church of England”, founded by Henry VIII in the sixteenth century in breaking with Rome, and 85 million Anglicans all over the world, is a woman. Sarah Mullally, 63 years old, a long successful career as a nurse, before becoming Bishop of London, is the new Archbishop of Canterbury and Anglican primate. Ordained as a pastora at forty years she held several positions in the English State Church before becoming Bishop of Crediton, a suffragan bishop in the diocese of Exeter. Married to Eamonn Mullally, Irish, architect and great connoisseur of London, the couple has a son and daughter. The announcement of the appointment came from Downing Street because the “Crown Perpintments Commission”, the Commission, made up of 17 members, who chose, with a majority of two thirds, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, sent the name to the Prime Minister who then subjected it, for the final approval, to King Carlo. It took eleven months to find a new archbishop after the outgoing primate Justin Welby had resigned last January for a scandal linked to the problem of abuse. Sarah Mullally has guided, for months, the “Living in Love and Faith” process which led to prayers and blessings for stable homosexual couples. In his mandate he will have to face several nodes of today’s English State Church, the decrease in the faithful and priestly ordinations, the lack of funds, especially in the parishes, the divisions on the theme of homosexuality. It is considered a moderate figure able to mediate the tensions between the most conservative and liberal parts of the English State Church.
To welcome the new Archbishopa of Canterbury was the English Catholic Primate Vincent Nichols who assured the bishop Mullally of the prayers of the Catholic community. “Bishop Mullally will bring many personal gifts and a long experience to his new role,” said Cardinal Nichols in a statement, “the challenges and opportunities that await the new Archbishop are many and significant. Together we will reply to the prayer of Jesus in the Gospel” that we can all be one “and we will try to develop the bonds of friendship and mission shared between the Church of England and the Catholic Church”.
The new Archbishopa of Canterbury, which will be introned, with an official ceremony, in the Cathedral of Canterbury next spring has pronounced her first speech today in the same cathedral that will see her protagonist of many celebrations.
He spoke of all the themes on the agenda, from the terrible attack on Manchester’s synagogue yesterday to the war in Ukraine and the Middle Eastern conflict and also of the difficult problems that is facing the Church of England, from divisions on sexuality to the protection of minors and vulnerable adults. An important part of the Archbishop’s speech was dedicated to hope. “When I think of all the struggles that the Church and society are facing, here in the United Kingdom and all over the world, at this moment, I often wonder where I can find hope”, said the new Anglican primate, “I have the privilege of seeing hope in the communities and parishes of the” Church of England “and throughout the Anglican community. I see thousands of churches manage food banks and reception hostels for the homeless.
