The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has spoken about the significance of last month’s meeting of Anglican leaders from across the global communion, noting also the significance of Vatican support for the crucial encounter.

The Anglican leader used his presidential address to the Church of England’s General Synod on Monday to review the Primates Meeting in Canterbury which focused on healing divisions, especially over issues of sexuality and the family life.

Archbishop Welby noted the important intervention at the meeting of Jean Vanier, founder of the Arche Community, as well as the presence in Canterbury Cathedral of the ancient Augustine Gospels and the head of a crozier on loan from the Rome Church of San Gregorio al Celio which he described as a remarkable “symbol of ecumenical unity”.

Also in Canterbury for the duration of the January 11th to 15th meeting was the Anglican Communion’s Mission Theologian, Bishop Graham Kings.