Press Releases13 Jun 25

Primate reflects on good relations and migration in video interview

The Church of Ireland’s Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop John McDowell, has shared his thoughts on meeting Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV in a new video interview looking back over the year to date.

Archbishop McDowell paid tribute to Pope Francis following his death on Easter Monday and was subsequently a member of the Anglican Communion’s delegation at Pope Leo’s enthronement in Rome on Sunday, 18th May.  Archbishop McDowell and Archbishop Eamon Martin have invited the new Pope to visit Ireland, an indication of the warm relations between Irish Anglicans and Roman Catholics.

He also discusses the Christian Church’s responsibility to welcome, care for and respect the stranger, in the context of migration in today’s world, reflects on General Synod 2025, and looks forward to welcoming the Anglican Consultative Council – which meets in person every three years – to Belfast in the summer of 2026.