Interview with Vatican Radio in Rome

Vatican Radio interview with Philippa Hitchen

Listen to the interview with Vatican Radio [2Mb]

Introduction: Here at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI today held a private meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams. Dr. Williams is in Rome this week for the seventh Building Bridges seminar of Christian and Muslim scholars. Before his meeting with the Pope he caught up with Philippa Hitchen and spoke to her about shared issues of interest and concern that he hoped to discuss with the Pope.

Archbishop of Canterbury: Well it'll be a fairly informal and low key meeting. I hope to bring him up to date on our plans about the Lambeth conference, perhaps to discuss with him a little what's going to be happening this week at the conference this week at Palazzola; and if we have time maybe just touch base a little on China and the various approaches that are going on around her that we're involved in with regard to the churches in China.

Philippa Hitchen: Can you give us any more clues about what you're working on in China particularly; certainly Pope Benedict has been very concerned about that part of the world?

Archbishop of Canterbury: We've been trying to build some relationships with scholars of religious studies in China. We brought a group over to Britain a little while ago to meet some British theologians and scholars and that was very constructive; and it's really a matter of keeping the door open for something more than polite exchanges but more real theological dialogue.

Philippa Hitchen: You're here for the installation of the new Director of the Anglican Centre; a new phase of the relationship perhaps between the Holy See and your representative here to the Vatican. Some would say this is perhaps the most difficult phase of the relationship since the Centre was founded after the Second Vatican council – would you agree with that?

Archbishop of Canterbury: It depends where you're looking from. I think that in terms of the conflicts within the Anglican Communion, yes, it's an unprecedentedly difficult time - no two ways about that. The other side of the story is that, partly because of the work of the previous couple of directors, especially Bishop John Flack, tremendously deep foundations have been laid of personal trust and confidence; and in terms of ease of access and honesty of discussion, I think we're in a very good phase of that relationship and I'm absolutely confident that the new director will be building on that".

Philippa Hitchen: What is your wish for him as he looks ahead over the coming years here? What would you like him to achieve?

Archbishop of Canterbury: He is bound to be looking in two directions. He will be looking to Lambeth Palace and the Church of England and I hope keeping us keenly aware of what he hears and what he sees going on here. I hope too that he will be able to have the kind of access that Bishop John Flack had and to develop that strategically, to make sure that we are listening in and making an input to discussions in a variety of settings here: including the Secretariat and Secretariat of State and perhaps the CDF [Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]. Just making sure that our voice is heard clearly and truthfully and that we hear what the Vatican has to say to us.