March 9, 2012. (Romereports.com) The head of the Anglican Church is traveling to Rome this weekend to pray with the pope. The two will gather at the Roman church of San Gregorio al Celio to celebrate vespers, marking the 1,000 anniversary of the Camaldoli monastery.

The church's monastery has a special significance to both Catholics and Anglicans. Saint Augustine of Canterbury served as prior of the institution.


Rowan Williams and Benedict XVI will have a private meeting on the morning of March 10th.

Relations between the two Churches have been tense over the ordaining of women priests in the Anglican Church, as well as an openly gay bishop in the U.S. In 2009, the Catholic Church also announced that it would create special 'Ordinariates' for Anglicans who would like to become Catholic while retaining many of their liturgical practices.

Despite their differences, the heads of the two Churches share a friendly relationship, meeting most recently in Assisi in 2011 during World Day of Prayer for Peace.

Also this June, the most renowned Anglican choir from Westminster Abbey will travel to Rome to perform in St. Peter's Basilica for the feast of St. Peter and Paul.


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