Anglican Archbishop Sarah Mullally has called the Catholic Church's ban on the female priesthood unjust

Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, during her visit to Rome and meeting with Pope Leo XIV, expressed her critical stance on the ban on the ordination of women in the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). The Anglican spiritual leader characterized the restrictions as an “injustice” and stressed her responsibility to speak out on socially relevant issues from a pastoral perspective. This is reported by LifeSiteNews.

In an interview following a private audience on April 30, 2026, Mullally explained that one of her tasks is to bear witness to the truth in the context of Christian ministry. She noted that while she is not a politician, her words can be perceived in a political way when it comes to advocating for justice. At the same time, the archbishopess avoided a direct answer to the question of whether the topic of women’s priesthood came up directly in her conversation with the pontiff, preferring to emphasize a “spiritually grounded” approach to the issue.

The visit was also accompanied by online discussion of a high-profile photograph showing Sarah Mullally making a gesture of blessing over the tomb of the Apostle Peter in the presence of the Catholic hierarch. For his part, Pope Leo XIV characterized the ongoing ecumenical dialogue as a complex process, noting that along with progress in relations between the churches, new difficulties are emerging. The Pontiff thanked Mullally for the visit, expressing hope for the continuation of joint prayer and strengthening of fraternal ties.

Concluding the visit, the Archbishopess called the meeting “a privilege and an occasion for humility,” emphasizing the atmosphere of warmth and enthusiasm. It is worth noting that these discussions are taking place against the background of general discussions about the role of faith in modern society, as King Charles III mentioned earlier, calling Christianity a pillar of society in the context of striving for a just world.