Archbishop of York to visit Rome

The Archbishop has been invited to Rome by the Director of the Anglican Centre, the Right Reverend John Flack

During his visit the Archbishop will meet with senior officials of the Roman Catholic Church, will celebrate the Eucharist in the Chapel of the Anglican Centre in Rome, and address an Ecumenical Service at the Lutheran Church.

Dr. Sentamu will also meet with the Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome who care for the homeless and visit the St Paul's Refugee Centre at Rome's American Episcopal Church.

The Archbishop of York will also pray in the Chapel of Janani Luwum, the Ugandan Archbishop who was martyred for his faith during the persecutions of the dictator Idi Amin.

The Archbishop said: "I am looking forward immensely to my visit to Rome and the varied programme of ministry I shall undertake."

Edited highlights of programme follows.

ENDS

For further information contact Arun Arora, Archbishop's Director of Communications, 01904 707021 / 07738 354491

Edited highlights of Itinerary:

Wednesday 23 January

1500 Visit to the Basilica of St Peter and the Scavi

1830 Visit to the Community of Sant' Egidio

2000 Archbishop to pray in the Chapel of +Janani Luwum in the church of San Bartolomeo on the Tiber Island

2030 Night Prayer (Compline) in San Bartolomeo – Archbishop to give short homily – there will be simultaneous translation into Italian

Thursday 24 January

1230 Eucharist in the Chapel of the Anglican Centre (Abp to

preside)

1630 Centro Pro Unione (The Franciscan Ecumenical Centre in Rome) with Cardinal Walter Kasper to preach.

2000 Formal Dinner given by the British Ambassador to Holy See

at his official residence in the Palazzo Pallavicini.

Friday 25 January

1000 Meeting in PCPCU (RC Christian Unity Council)

1200 Patronal Festival Eucharist for the American Episcopal

Church in Rome (Abp to preside) with the American Episcopal Bishop in Europe +Pierre Whalon

1430 Visit to St Paul's Refugee Centre

1730 Ecumenical Vespers at St Paul-without-the-walls. This is the highlight of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Rome and draws a congregation of several thousand. The Pope presides and preaches, assisted by an Orthodox Bishop.

Sunday 27 January

1030 Anglican Sung Eucharist at All Saints Rome (Abp to preside & preach) Joined by the Nigerian Anglican congregation from Macerata in Eastern Italy

1700 Rome Clergy Fellowship at the Lutheran Church.

The Rome Clergy Fellowship is the meeting of all English-speaking clergy in Rome from all denominations.

1800 Annual World Prayer Christian Unity Service at the Lutheran Church (Abp to preach)