The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, has commissioned the Anglican Centre in Rome’s Director, the Rt Revd Anthony Ball, as her representative to the Holy See. 

The Anglican Centre is the permanent Anglican Communion presence in Rome, committed to be 'the living reality of our Communion's commitment to the full visible unity of the Church'. As an ecumenical centre, it supports liaison between Pope Leo and the Archbishop of Canterbury and works with Anglican Communion and Vatican bodies on joint projects for education and shared mission. 

Held on the day of the Archbishop's audience with Pope Leo XIV (27 April), Bishop Anthony Ball's commissioning service took place at the Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola, which was consecrated in 1626 in honour of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order.

The preacher was His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect in the Dicastery for Evangelization. Worship was led by a choir drawn from All Saints’ Church and St Paul’s Within the Walls, and the New Chamber Singers.

The commissioning was an important part of the Archbishop's four-day pilgrimage to Rome. The purpose of the visit has been to strengthen Anglican–Roman Catholic relations through prayer, personal encounter, and formal theological dialogue. The focus is to deepen bonds of communion, affirm a shared witness, and encourage ongoing collaboration at both global and local levels.

About Bishop Anthony Ball

Bishop Ball was previously commissioned in his role as Director in May 2025, during the time of the vacancy in the See of Canterbury. Yesterday's commissioning was an important moment, now that the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury has taken office, following her installation service in March 2026.

Bishop Anthony Ball was born in Southern Africa and joined the Diplomatic Service after studying at the University of Durham. Whilst posted with the British Embassy in Damascus, he was the Archbishop of Canterbury’s representative to the Heads of the Orthodox Churches in Syria and Lebanon.  He served for a time at Lambeth Palace where he held responsibility for advising on Anglican Communion, Ecumenical, Inter Religious and International relations before serving as the Archbishop's Chaplain.  He then moved to the Chapter of Westminster Abbey as Canon Steward and Archdeacon of Westminster and as the Bishop of the Diocese of North Africa in the Province of Alexandria, having previously been an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Egypt.

Speaking about his Commissioning service, Bishop Anthony Ball said: 'It is a huge honour to have been commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury as her Representative to the Holy See.

'We have been delighted to have shared in welcoming Archbishop Sarah to Rome as she makes a pilgrimage, encounters the Anglican communities and, of course, meets Pope Leo.

'Her presence is a great encouragement to all of us connected with the mission and ministry of the Anglican Centre in Rome as we seek to build on the work of those who have gone before, establish new connections, and explore how together we can best respond to the prayer of Our Lord for the unity of the Church and his Great Commission.

'Indeed, the Commissioning itself is a mark of how our ecumenical relationships have developed – not only through the powerful sermon offered by Cardinal Tagle, the joint blessing or even the location here in the glorious Church of St Ignatius of Loyola – but especially in the broad range of those who have come to worship together.'

The Archbishop's pilgrimage to Rome

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit to Rome has taken place within the context of the long-standing ecumenical relationship between the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church, rooted in the historic 1966 meeting between Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI.

That encounter inaugurated a renewed commitment to visible unity, which continues to be expressed today through the work of the Anglican–Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), the International Anglican–Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), and the ministry of the Anglican Centre in Rome.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's address to Pope Leo XIV

Addressing Pope Leo XIV in their private meeting at the at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, Archbishop Sarah’s gave thanks for the important ecumenical work of the Anglican Centre in Rome, saying: 

'It is a joy and a privilege to be received by you, together with this delegation from Lambeth Palace. Last month I journeyed to my installation in Canterbury as a pilgrim, walking in the footsteps of those disciples who came before me. I have come to Rome as a pilgrim, continuing the journey that began in Canterbury. I am very pleased to be accompanied by Archbishop Richard Moth, who serves with me as a President of Churches Together in England. Archbishop Richard’s presence reflects our shared ecumenical commitment at home and reminds us that the ecumenical pilgrimage is always one we undertake together – as a fellowship of Christians seeking the unity for which Christ prayed.

We give thanks for the Anglican Centre in Rome, a living fruit of the historic 1966 meeting between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey – a moment that marked a profound turning point in relations between our Churches. That encounter continues to bear fruit through ARCIC, IARCCUM, and the many relationships of trust that have grown between our Churches – signs of a shared confidence in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.'

Pope Leo's address to the Archbishop of Canterbury 

During the meeting with Archbishiop Sarah, Pope Leo spoke of the importance of Christian Unity, referencing both the significance of ecumenical encounter as well as the need for the Anglican Communion and all Christians to address differences and divisions. He said:

'While our suffering world greatly needs the peace of Christ, the divisions among Christians weakens our capacity to be effective bearers of that peace. If the world is to take our preaching to heart, we must, therefore, be constant in our prayers and efforts to remove any stumbling blocks that hinder the proclamation of the Gospel. This focus on the need for unity for the sake of a more fruitful evangelization has been a theme throughout my own ministry; indeed it is reflected in the motto I chose when I became a bishop: In Illo uno unum, “In the One — that is Christ — we are one” (Saint Augustine, Enarr. in Ps., 127, 3).

'In this regard,  when Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Saint Paul VI announced the first theological dialogue between Anglicans and Catholics, they spoke of seeking the “restoration of complete communion in faith and sacramental life” (Common Declaration, 24 March 1966). Certainly this ecumenical journey has been complex. While much progress has been made on some historically divisive issues, new problems have arisen in recent decades, rendering the pathway to full communion more difficult to discern. I know that the Anglican Communion is also facing many of these same questions at this time. Nevertheless, we must not allow these continuing challenges to prevent us from using every possible opportunity to proclaim Christ to the world together. As my beloved predecessor, Pope Francis, said to the Primates of the Anglican Communion in 2024, “it would be a scandal if, due to our divisions, we did not fulfil our common vocation to make Christ known” (Address to Primates of the Anglican Communion, 2 May 2024). For my part, I add that it would also be a scandal if we did not continue to work towards overcoming our differences, no matter how intractable they may appear.

Building Anglican and Catholic Relations

This week's meeting continues to build on ecumenical meetings between the Pope and Anglicans that have arisen since 1966. In more recent years, Anglican Primates enjoyed a Private audience with Pope Francis in April 2024. During that meeting Pope Francis encouraged those gathered saying: 'Only a love that becomes gratuitous service, only the love that Jesus taught and embodies, will bring separated Christians closer to one another. Only that love, which does not appeal to the past in order to remain aloof or to point a finger, only that love which in God's name puts our brothers and sisters before the ironclad defence of our own religious structures, only that love will unite us. First our brothers and sisters, the structures later.'

In January 2024, during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity an ecumenical summit called ‘Growing Together’ gathered Anglican and Catholic bishop pairs together for dialogue about ongoing collaboration in mission. It was supported by IARCCUM - the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission. Bishops spent time visiting holy sites in both Rome and Canterbury. The bishops were also commissioned by Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury at that time (Justin Welby) at a service in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. 

Bishop of the Diocese in Europe affirms the Anglican Centre in Rome

The Rt Revd Robert Innes is the Bishop of the Diocese in Europe, Co-Chair of IARCCUM and a Governor of the Anglican Centre in Rome. Speaking about the importance of its work he said: ‘The Anglican Centre in Rome is effectively an Anglican Communion diplomatic mission to the Vatican. The Director has a unique position to represent Anglican interests and perspectives to the Roman Catholic Church. He acts as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s personal representative to the Vatican.

'At a time when the world is suffering such terrible divisions, unity between Christian communions and churches has seldom been more important. The Anglican Centre in Rome is a means of promoting unity at a global level. The appointment of a new Director gives fresh opportunities to raise the profile of the Centre and to generate fresh vision for it. Coinciding with the new Archbishop’s first audience with His Holiness Pope Leo, the inauguration of Bishop Anthony’s new ministry made for an exciting weekend. I am full of joy and hope for the future of Anglican/Catholic relations.'

For more information

Find out about the work of the Anglican Centre in Rome

Read about the meeting between Pope Leo XIV and the Archbishop of Canterbury

Find out about Anglican-Catholic ecumenical work

Read about the 2024 Primates' Meeting with Pope Francis

Find out more about the commissioning service of IARCCUM bishops in 2024 by Pope Francis and Justin Welby