Sarah Mullally, the first female archbishop, on a visit to the Vatican

Sarah Mullally, the new Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman in this position, begins a four-day visit to Rome on Saturday, where she will be received by Pope Leo XIV. This meeting takes place 60 years after a historic meeting between Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI. Relations between the Anglican Church and the Catholic Church have constantly improved, but Mullally's visit is significant, considering the recent disagreements regarding the ordination of women.

A former nurse, Mullally is married and has two children, and her appointment has generated controversy in the Anglican community. Women's rights activists hope that her visit will influence the Catholic Church's position on the ordination of women. During the meeting, common challenges will be discussed, including social issues and sexual abuse within the clergy.

Bishop Anthony Ball emphasizes the importance of this meeting for strengthening relations between the two churches.