Anglican Communion News Service

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster pray together in the Chapel of Holy Souls in Westminster Cathedral for the victims of the tsunami

Photo Credit: ACNS

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams, attended solemn vespers on Friday 14 January at the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral and preached at the service at the invitation of the Cardinal Archbishop of England, HE Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, to mark Christian Unity Week. It was his first official visit to the cathedral.

Before the service, Archbishop Rowan opened and toured an exhibition being held in the cathedral on Anglicanism. 'Anglicanism and the Western Tradition' was previously on show at the Vatican but has been exhibited since at several cathedrals across the UK. The exhibition will remain at Westminster Cathedral for the next month. Charting the history of Anglicanism, it highlights important ecumenical initiatives, such as ARCIC (Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission) and the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission.

The Archbishop and Cardinal also prayed in the Chapel of Holy Souls for the victims of the Asian Tsunami. The following prayer was said by them together:

Lord,
You are always faithful and are rich in mercy

We pray for our brothers and sisters who have died, or who have lost loved ones
and livelihood in the Tsunami earthquake disaster

We know that every life is sacred to You, and that each person is held in Your hands

We commend the dead to Your loving care, those who mourn to Your compassion,
those who fear to Your comfort, those who despair to Your protection.

We ask this through Your Son, the Light that shines in our darkness,
Jesus Christ
Amen

Archbishop Rowan Williams and Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor stand before the high altar of Westminster Cathedral at Friday's vespers

Photo Credit: ACNS

The Rt Revd John Flack, director the Anglican Centre in Rome (right) with the Cardinal Archbishop and the Archbishop of Canterbury. In the background is one of the panels of the exhibitionon the history of Anglicanism that is on display in the Roman Catholic national cathedral this week

Photo Credit: ACNS

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor (left) and the Archbishop of Canterbury
at the entrance to Westminster Cathedral on Friday for the observance of Christian Unity week

Photo Credit: ACNS