Roots that unite

It has often been said that ex Anglican Primate Rowan Williams and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, both highbrow theologians, have a special understanding. Also Pope Francis addressed fraternal words to the new Anglican Primate Justin Welby, who quoted his words during the ceremony for his own enthronement past March 21. Felicitations were conveyed also by Cardinal Peter Erdö, president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). Justin Welby, 57, ex-oil executive, with an evangelical formation, is the new bishop of Canterbury, theological leader of the "Church of England" headed by Her Majesty the Queen, and Anglican Primate for 77 million faithful across the world. The quotation from Pope Francis. The archbishop of Canterbury quoted from the homily of Pope Francis, who sent a message of good wishes in which the Holy Father said he hoped to meet him soon. "In humility and simplicity Pope Francis called us on Tuesday to be protectors of each other: of the natural world, of the poor and vulnerable", said the Anglican Primate.The courage of Christians. Commenting a passage from the Gospel of Mathew in which Jesus invites Peter to walk on water, Archbishop Welby said: "Courage is released in a society that is under the authority of God, so that we may become the fully human community of which we all dream. Let us hear Christ who calls to us and says ‘Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid’".Against secularization. The sermon of the new Anglican leader was dedicated to the defence of Christianity in what is probably the most secularized society in the world. Speaking to British elites – in the front rows were seated Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Prime Minister David Cameron with other 2 thousand guests – the Archbishop recalled the milestones of the United Kingdom: "Slaves were freed, Factory Acts passed, and the NHS and social care established through Christ-liberated courage".The present challenges. Taking a stand in the debates whereby Christian values are marginalized in the human rights agenda, the Anglican Primate in his sermon underlined that "For more than a thousand years this country has to one degree or another sought to recognise that Jesus is the Son of God; by the ordering of its society, by its laws, by its sense of community. The present challenges of environment and economy, of human development and global poverty, can only be faced with extraordinary courage", Welby said.A healthy society obeys to God. The new leader of the Anglican Communion, echoing Catholic Primate Vincent Nichols, on several occasions voiced his opposition to David Cameron’s intention to legalize gay marriages and criticized government cuts to benefits to the poor. "A healthy society obeys to God", he said. Public and private responsibilities. "Today we may properly differ on the degrees of state and private responsibility in a healthy society", continued the Archbishop of Canterbury, "but if we sever our roots in Christ we abandon the stability which enables good decision making. There can be no final justice, or security, or love, or hope in our society if it is not finally based on rootedness in Christ". Enthronement by a woman. For the first time in the history of the Church of England the archbishop was enthroned by a woman, the archdeacon of Canterbury Sheila Watson, which signals the determination of the Church of England and its new leader to open to the ordination of women bishops in next July’s general synod. In the interviews released a few days ago Archbishop Welby explained that the Church has prepared a procedure that will allow for women to wear mitres while allowing for those who disagree.The Pope represented by cardinal. At the ceremony, Pope Francis, who wrote in the message for Archbishop Justin’s inauguration that he wishes to continue "the warm fraternal relations that our predecessors enjoyed", was represented by Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. Along with the Holy See delegation in Canterbury were present Catholic primate Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and the apostolic nuncio to Great Britain archbishop Antonio Mennini.