Press-Release
Archbishop of Canterbury visits Lusitanian Church (Portugal)
From 17 to 18 February 2024, the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion and Primate of All England, will visit the Lusitanian Church on the occasion of the opening of the 100th Diocesan Synod of this Church, belonging to the Anglican Communion.
On his first visit to Portugal as Metropolitan of the Lusitanian Church, Justin Welby, who will be accompanied by his wife, Caroline Welby, will carry out an intense programme that will allow him to meet religious and ecumenical leaders in Portugal on the morning of the 17th.
In the afternoon, at 2.30pm, the opening Eucharist of the 100th Synod will take place in Lisbon's St Paul's Cathedral, in the presence of numerous guests, including the President of the Portuguese Republic, Professor Dr Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Dr. Vera Jardim, President of the Religious Freedom Commission. The celebration will be broadcast live on the Igreja Lusitana's digital platforms.
Following Anglican tradition, the opening Eucharist of the 100th Lusitanian Synod will be presided over by the diocesan bishop, Right Rev. Jorge Pina Cabral. After the celebration there will be a meeting between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the President of the Portuguese Republic to present greetings, followed by the first session of the Synod, attended by clergy and laity, representatives of the various parishes, missions and Church organisations and invited guests. On Sunday, 18 February, Justin Welby and his wife will visit the Lusitanian Parish of the Holy Family, in BelasQueluz, with the Eucharist celebration at 10.30am, followed by a visit to the social work, carried out at the Parish Social Centre.
With the theme "Called to Hope and Holiness in Christ - Witnessing Together", the 100th Synodal meeting marks a historic stage in the multi-century journey of a Church that held its founding Synod in 1880. Synodality is a distinctive mark of the Lusitanian Church and of Anglicanism, since the Church is governed by the Synod, the highest body, which is presided over by the diocesan Bishop and in which the clergy and lay representatives of the various parishes and ecclesial organisations sit.
Bishop Jorge Pina Cabral, expressed his joy at this visit, which recognises the historical presence of the Lusitanian Church and its missionary work in Portuguese society, and which is also an opportunity to deepen ecumenical and interreligious work in Portugal.
Diocesan Centre, Vila Nova de Gaia, 1st February 2024
For more information on the Archbishop of Canterbury's visit and media relations, please contact:
Reverend Sérgio Alves (priest) - Tel: 00351 914687858
Communication Department of the Lusitanian Church
Email: centrodiocesano@igreja-lusitana.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/igrejalusitana
Youtube: www.youtube.com/igrejalusitana (broadcast of the Celebration)
Web : www.igreja-lusitana.org