The Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, Primate of the Church of England, founded by Henry VIII in the sixteenth century, is rumoured to be about to announce his resignation. The disclosure was made in recent days both by the Sunday Telegraph and by the Daily Telegraph, papers traditionally close to the hierarchy of the Church of England; both papers called the resignation of the head of the Anglican Church unusual. According to these indiscretions in the press, not confirmed – it should be added – by the archbishop himself, Carey will retire in November 2002, at the age of 67, three years ahead of the end of his term (Anglican Primates are supposed to serve to the age of 70). Although the Church of England is headed by the Queen, theological responsibility and the management of the most important questions are assigned to the Archbishop who is appointed by the sovereign, on the advice of the Prime Minister. The reasons for such a premature resignation are not known: the eleven years of George Carey at Lambeth Palace official seat of the Anglican Primate have been strenuous and promising in ecumenical dialogue, but also painful. Of humble origins, an outsider to the British ruling class that has always been educated in Oxford and Cambridge, the current Archbishop of Canterbury has often been the target of hostile attacks in the national press. In 1992 Carey campaigned successfully in favour of the ordination of women. He has met the Pope on several occasions.
