Pope Leo and Archbishop Mullally Meet at Vatican to Discuss Peace and Justice

Dame Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to lead the Church of England, met with Pope Leo at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on April 27, 2026. Following a private discussion between the two religious leaders, Mullally praised the Pope for his public stances against injustice and stated that they were united in prayer for justice and peace in our world.

During the meeting, Mullally told the pontiff that he would receive a warm welcome if he chose to visit the United Kingdom. She noted that the Pope’s messages regarding global suffering and the common good served as a reminder that people long for life in its fullness despite ongoing hardships.

Criticism of War and Global Tyranny

The meeting occurred shortly after Pope Leo made a series of forceful comments during a visit to Cameroon on April 16, 2026. While touring a region affected by a deadly insurgency, the Pope criticized world leaders who spend billions of dollars on warfare while ignoring the resources required for education, restoration, and healing.

The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.

Pope Leo

During his time in Cameroon, the Pope condemned an endless cycle of destabilisation and death within the bloodstained region and urged the country to root out corruption to achieve peace. He specifically targeted those he claimed had manipulated the very name of God for personal gain.

The pontiff further criticized the masters of war, stating that while it takes only a moment to destroy, a lifetime is often insufficient to rebuild what has been lost to conflict.

Diplomatic Tensions with the United States

Pope Leo’s anti-war rhetoric has contributed to a high-profile dispute with US President Donald Trump. The President previously posted an attack on the Pope via Truth Social, stating that Leo should get his act together as Pope and later accusing him of being weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.

The friction intensified after the Pope expressed concern over a threat made by President Trump regarding Iran. The US President had warned that a whole civilisation will die if Iran did not agree to US demands to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. While a ceasefire eventually averted the threat, the Pope maintained that he would continue to speak out loudly against war and promote peace.

Beyond foreign policy, Pope Leo, who became the first US-born Pope in 2025, has also questioned the Trump administration’s policies concerning immigration. Despite these tensions, the Pope told reporters at the start of his Africa tour that he did not wish to engage in a debate with the US President.

Ecumenical Milestones

The meeting between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope is viewed as a historic moment, particularly as it involves the first female leader of the Church of England. This interaction follows other recent symbolic gestures toward unity between the Anglican and Catholic churches.

Mullally informed the Pope that King Charles III had valued his recent visit in October 2025. During that visit, the King and the Pope prayed together in a public service, marking the first time a British monarch had done so with the head of the Catholic Church since the Reformation.

Mullally further emphasized the Pope’s role in providing hope, stating that while he has spoken powerfully about injustices, he has spoken even more powerfully about hope.