On the eve of the Pontiff’s visit, ZENIT spoke with Reverend Canon David Richardson, also the director of the Anglican Center in Rome, about the importance of the trip in terms of ecumenism.<\/p>\n
Speaking about his experiences meeting the Pontiff on several occasions as part of his position, the envoy said, “He has always been warm and I admire him greatly as a theologian.”<\/p>\n
He added, “To have in the present the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury two such towering theological figures means that this is a fascinating time to be in my appointment.”<\/p>\n
Richardson spoke about Cardinal John Henry Newman, due to be beatified by the Holy Father on Sunday, who he said is “a somewhat ambiguous figure both within Anglicanism and Roman Catholicism.”<\/p>\n
“As an Anglican he had something of the prophet’s mantle and called the Church of England, that part of Anglicanism which was his home, back to a vision of itself which it had lost or was in danger of losing,” the representative said.<\/p>\n