Archbishop writes from Rome after Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass

 Dear People of ACSA

I am writing from Rome, where I am with Lungi and members of an international Anglican delegation attending the Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV. Tomorrow I am part of a team which will have an audience with His Holiness.

We arrived last night (Saturday night). Today the service, the liturgy [PDF] and the music, was glorious and the Anglican Communion was well represented. The Pope's message of peace struck a real chord in me.  

Afterwards we had lunch at the British Embassy to the Holy See, together with English cardinals, MPs and members of the Royal family. We were also joined by Bishop Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.

After lunch, Lungi and I joined the Royal family and team and went to Pope Francis's grave where I laid a white rose in his memory.

Please keep us, the Communion delegation, all those who attended the Mass, and the Pope in your prayers.

††Thabo

 An addendum from the Archbishop after sending the photo below:

"Today was the first of possible many gestures of uniting us as humanity and then the household of Faith especially Christians in responding to what God is up to in God’s world."

[Photo: Neil Verger]