Catholic and Anglican representatives gathered in Christchurch this week for the latest meeting in one of the official Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogues of this Church, known as the Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission of Aotearoa New Zealand (ARCCANZ). 

With new global Communion leadership changes still top of mind in both churches, dialogue members took the opportunity to reflect on the processes and people involved in the succession of Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop of Canterbury designate Rt Rev Sarah Mullally.

The four Catholic and four Anglican representatives spent two days in conversation, looking at the issues raised within and between the two churches in the succession of their new global leaders.

“What we have been reflecting on is the transition of leadership from Francis to Leo and from Justin Welby to Sarah Mullally, and what that has meant, what that process has been like for us – what has unified us, what different challenges we’ve experienced,” reported ARCCANZ Co-Chair, Catholic Bishop of Christchurch Michael Gielen. 

Cardinal John Dew, who participated in the conclave that elected Pope Leo, joined the meeting to share his personal insights into the experience of taking part in the ancient ritual of choosing a new pope in Rome. 

Presiding at a mass on 22 October, Bishop Michael Gielen noted it was the feast day of former Pope the now canonised Saint John Paul II, who preached at Christchurch's now demolished Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament back in 1986. Bishop Michael reminded dialogue members of the saint's call to work for unity “by the process of honest dialogue sustained by prayer, without compromising the truth.”

Anglican Bishop of Auckland Ross Bay, who is Anglican Co-chair of ARCCANZ, said he has seen a shift in the way Anglicans and Catholics collaborate over his years on the Commission.

“I think one of the ways in which the work of dialogue has progressed has been that it started really about talking a lot together, about the things that divide us, the things that we've been working on to find common ground, but we've been finding ourselves drawn more towards how we walk together.” said Bishop Ross. 

“What are the things we can do together and walk together towards that, through a common purpose and mission, draw us closer together in our common call to live out a baptismal life?”

One area Bishop Ross reported that this week's meeting had explored in depth was the two churches' common call to combat modern slavery and human trafficking in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand. 

ARCCANZ is also inspired by Pope Francis' commissioning of pairs of Anglican and Catholic bishops, including Bishop Ross Bay and Bishop Michael Gielen, to lead their churches in pursuing shared mission interests where possible and appropriate.

"We hope there will be more to come as we find ways of working together on awareness raising, education and response." said Bishop Ross today. 

The ARCCANZ dialogue includes Catholic members: Bishop Michael Gielen, Fr Pat Breeze, Sr Bridget Crisp rsm and Mike Stopforth and Anglican members: Bishop Ross Bay, Dr Moeawa Callaghan (who is a member of the global dialogue group, ARCIC), Rev Andrew McKean, Rev Charles Tyrell and the Rev Dr Moana Hall-Smith. Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon, former Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome also took part in dialogue at this week's ARCCANZ meeting.

Founded in 1983, ARCCANZ continues to build on understanding between Catholics and Anglicans in Aotearoa New Zealand and to follow the progress of the global-level dialogue between the two Communions led by the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC).