Pope Leo, Anglican Leader Unite in Rome

0:00It's April 27. You're listening to Canada News today, AI-powered local news. Pope Leo XIV met with Sarah Mollely, the first female archbishop of Canterbury at the Vatican on Monday. They prayed together and vowed to push past old divides between Catholics and Anglicans, aiming to build stronger ties in joint work worldwide. This comes amid deep historical rifts, like the split back in 1534 when England's King Henry VIII broke from Rome over his marriage issues. Talk started in the 1960s, but clashes remained sharp, especially since Anglicans began ordaining women priests in 1994. Bishops in 2015, while Catholics stick to men only. The meeting drew praise as a big step, unthinkable years ago, with experts calling a historic optics for unity against global messes. Mollely's new role has cracked the Anglican world, cheering liberals in the West but angering conservatives in Africa and beyond, who slammed her.

1:00Picking eye, a split. Her four-day Rome trip includes prayers at key basilicas and chats with Vatican Biggs, building on October's visit by King Charles III, the first. Such royal Pope prayer since the Reformation. It also nods to the 60th anniversary of their first joint statement, Leo's committing to dialogue despite fresh hurdles, echoing calls for hope and bridges over walls and tough times, keeping the ecumenical fire alive.