The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, joined Christian and other faith leaders at the closing day of the 40th International Meeting for Peace in Assisi yesterday.
Archbishop Sarah took part in an ecumenical prayer service with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and representatives of Churches and Christian communities at the Papal Basilica of St Francis of Assisi.
The service was led by Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, with meditations by the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Cardinal Archbishop of Bologna.
The Archbishop of Canterbury participates in the closing ceremony of the 40th International Meeting for Peace in Assisi, Italy, 27 October 2026.
Photo credit
Chris Warde-Jones/Lambeth Palace
During the service, Archbishop Sarah said a prayer for all the countries of the world affected by war, violence and terrorism. The Christian leaders then joined other faith leaders and representatives at the closing ceremony, which included a video address by Pope Leo XIV, who was unable to fly to Assisi following his recent surgery.
In his message the Pope urged all participants to join him in being “unarmed instruments of the Lord’s peace” and said that “war can never be waged in the name of God.”
The closing ceremony featured addresses by different faith leaders, and a moment of silence in memory of the victims of war. Archbishop Sarah then joined the faith leaders and representatives in lighting the Candelabra for Peace.
The Archbishop of Canterbury meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I during the International Meeting for Peace in Assisi, Italy, 27 October 2026.
Photo credit
Chris Warde-Jones/Lambeth Palace.
Earlier in the day the Archbishop met privately with His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch. During the meeting the Archbishop congratulated Patriarch Bartholomew on the 35th anniversary of his enthronement and assured him of her prayers for his ministry.
Together they reflected on the need for advancing the ecumenical dialogue, and their hopes for the continuing deepening of relationship between Anglican and Orthodox churches.
During the meeting the Ecumenical Patriarch gifted Archbishop Sarah with a komboskini (prayer beads) from Mount Athos. Organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio Community, the 2026 International Meeting for Peace marked the 40th anniversary of peace gatherings in Assisi, which have been attended by successive Archbishops of Canterbury.
Archbishop Robert Runcie attended the first meeting in 1986, which was inaugurated by Pope John Paul II.