The leader is near

It’s a matter of weeks, maybe of days. The press office of the "Church of England" confirmed that the name of the new leader, the successor of Rowan Williams, is expected to be announced before Christmas. In the meantime the press announced a short list from which the "Crown Nominations commission" will select two candidates whose names will be submitted to the prime minister. Silvia Guzzetti, for SIR Europe, addressed the issue with journalists Clifford Longley and Luke Coppen, and with the member of the Anglican Synod Christina Rees.Before Christmas…? The name of the successor of Rowan Williams to the lead of the Church of England and of the Anglican Communion will be announced between November and December. The press office of the Church of England reiterated what the Secretary General of the Synod William Fittall said a few days ago. "The new name will be known in November or December", said the spokesman of the Church of England, with a delay of several weeks if compared to the time when Williams announced his retirement. The candidates’ names. The short list, guided by Justin Welby, includes all the candidates described as the favourites by the British press. According to the press office of the Church of England the names mentioned in the press are credible as they correspond to the dioceses and to the most important personalities of the Communion. In addition to the bishop of Durham, Justin Welby – a former oil executive who spent many years in Africa – another likely successor of Williams could be the archbishop of York, John Sentamu, of Ugandian origin, in favour of traditional values, but whose style is distant from that of the English establishment, or the archbishop of London Richard Chartres, friend of prince Charles, with a tepid approach towards the ordination of women bishops. Favourites include also the bishop of Conventry Christopher Cocksworth, 52, close to the evangelical part of the Church, and that of Norwich, Graham James, who had a clash with the government for issues regarding gay marriage and cuts to the welfare state. The question of age. Clifford Longley, Catholic, former correspondent of the Times and the Daily Telegraph for religious issues, says that sources of Lambeth Palace, the residence of the Archbishop Rowan Williams, have advised not to assume that the first name that will be presented the Prime Minister is Justin Welby’s. Everything could change at the last minute. According to Longley, age is a decisive factor. "In 2018 will be held next Lambeth conference, the meeting which brings together all the bishops of the Anglican Communion. Williams wanted to resign this year to give his successor time to become familiar with the work before tackling this important commitment. There is a tradition in the Church of England, according to which bishops and archbishops retire before reaching the age of 70. Most leave at 67 or 68 years. "According to this approach the range of possible candidates would exclude, in addition to the Archbishop of York, who is 63 years old also the bishop of London, Richard Chartres, who is 62 years old and that of Norwich, Graham James, 62. "They would be too old for the Lambeth conference", Longley said. The voice of a woman. Christina Rees, a member of the Synod of the Church of England, who represents group that called for the ordination of women, supports Justin Welby’s candidacy. "Welby knows not only the Church, he also knows the world of economy and of conflicts", she said. "All the candidates – she added – are in favour of the ordination of women bishops. Only the bishop of London Richard Charters isn’t very enthusiastic. But even though he personally isn’t in favour, he knows how to work with women bishops and therefore I wouldn’t be worried if he were the chosen one. Is he no longer so close to the Pope? For Luke Coppen, editor-in-chief of "The Catholic Herald", "it is very unlikely that the next archbishop of Canterbury is as close to the Catholic Church as Rowan Williams was, who has a very close relationship with Pope Benedict XVI. They’re both theologians and William has a deep sympathy for Catholicism and he is deeply influenced by Benedictine spirituality", Coppen said. "I’m sure – he added – that the next archbishop will be deeply committed in ecumenical dialogue, just as Williams did". For the director of the "Catholic Herald" "it’s hard to imagine that the relationship between the two leaders can be as close as it is today. However, it is this bond that has avoided such a serious crisis when hundreds of Anglican faithful wanted to become catholic and in 2011 the Pope adopted the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham to receive them".