King Charles III has approved the nomination of the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. She will be the first woman to hold the office, with her installation scheduled for March 2026 at Canterbury Cathedral.

In a letter addressed to Bishop Mullally, Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, offered his congratulations and expressed the Catholic Church’s support for her new ministry. He wrote:

“Having learned of your nomination… I write to congratulate you on your appointment and to express the good wishes of the Catholic Church to you as you prepare to undertake this important service in your Church. I pray that the Lord will bless you with the gifts you need for the very demanding ministry to which you have now been called, equipping you to be an instrument of communion and unity for the faithful among whom you will serve,” Cardinal Koch writes.

Cardinal Koch highlighted the longstanding theological dialogue between the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church, noting that it has fostered mutual understanding and affection over nearly sixty years. He recalled the warmth of relationships between the two communions, particularly after the death of Pope Francis earlier this year, and expressed hope that this closeness would continue:

“It is my fervent hope that such closeness may continue in the years ahead as we continue to walk together on the way. With the assurance of my prayers for you and your family,” he said.

Cardinal Kurt Koch

Bishop Mullally

Bishop Mullally succeeds Archbishop Justin Welby, who resigned almost a year ago. She has served as Bishop of London since 2018, becoming the first woman in that role, and previously served as Bishop of Crediton in the Diocese of Exeter. Prior to her ordination in 2001, she was England’s Chief Nursing Officer, the youngest person ever appointed to that role at age 37. She has described nursing as “an opportunity to reflect the love of God.”

The Crown Nominations Commission for Canterbury selected Bishop Mullally following a process of public consultation and prayerful discernment that began in February 2025. The Commission included representatives from the Church of England, the global Anglican Communion, and the Diocese of Canterbury.

Reflecting on her appointment, Bishop Mullally said she hopes to encourage the Church “to continue to grow in confidence in the Gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ and for it to shape our actions,” and looks forward to sharing “this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.”