Story perspectives

Vatican Visit Highlights Anglican Split Over Women Leaders

4/28/2026

Left

Mullally Meets Pope

Sarah Mullally’s Vatican visit exposed deep Anglican splits over women’s leadership and the Catholic Church’s male-only priesthood.
Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally met and prayed together at the Vatican on April 27, 2026.
Mullally, the first woman leading the Anglican Communion, entered the Pope’s private library before prayer.
Conservative Anglican groups, including GAFCON, condemned her appointment and warned the communion could split.

Right

Trump Rebukes Pope

U.S. President Donald Trump berated Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff condemned the war in Iran, sparking scrutiny of their relationship.
Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally prayed together at the Vatican on April 27, 2026.
Mullally noted Leo XIV called the Lord’s peace ‘unarmed’, condemning violence and affirming life’s value.
The warning said same-sex blessings and women’s ordination could impede full Anglican-Catholic communion.

Blindspot

Left coverage gave more weight to the reaction of conservative Anglican groups, noting the Global Anglican Future Conference’s condemnation of Mullally’s appointment and the threat of a split within the communion, which the Right summary does not mention.
Right coverage highlighted a Trump-Iran dispute and political criticism of the Pope, an angle that receives little attention in the Left summaries.

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Mullally Meets Pope

Sarah Mullally’s Vatican visit exposed deep Anglican splits over women’s leadership and the Catholic Church’s male-only priesthood.
Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally met and prayed together at the Vatican on April 27, 2026.
Mullally, the first woman leading the Anglican Communion, entered the Pope’s private library before prayer.
Conservative Anglican groups, including GAFCON, condemned her appointment and warned the communion could split.

1 / 3