After the reception granted to her by Leo XIV at the Vatican, Sarah Mullally continues to accumulate gestures of institutional recognition. On this occasion, the Anglican Primate was officially welcomed by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, where she took part in a meeting with the heads of the Churches of the Holy Land and was received by Patriarch Theophilos III.
The visit took place at the end of a five-day pilgrimage through Israel and the Palestinian territories, carried out together with the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum. During those days, Mullally visited various communities, hospitals, schools, and charitable works of the Anglican Church, as well as meeting with ecclesial representatives, civil organizations, and leaders of other religious confessions.
Meeting with Patriarch Theophilos III
One of the central moments of the trip took place at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, where Mullally participated in a meeting with the heads of the Churches of Jerusalem.
In her remarks, the Anglican leader expressly thanked the welcome extended by Patriarch Theophilos III, both at the Patriarchate itself and during the joint visit to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, describing the encounter as “a profound gift.”
She also expressed her gratitude for the support the Patriarch provides to the Anglican presence in the Holy Land and, in particular, to the Al Ahli Anglican Hospital in Gaza, one of the few Christian medical centers that continue to provide care amid the conflict.
Appeal in favor of the Christians of the Holy Land
During her stay, Mullally and Hosam Naoum issued a pastoral letter in which they expressed their concern for the future of the Palestinian Christian presence in the Holy Land.
Both denounced the suffering caused by the war in Gaza, the violence in the West Bank, population displacements, and the deterioration of living conditions for Christian communities. They also called for greater commitment from the international community to end the conflict and advocated for a two-state solution as a path to achieving a stable peace.
In her address to the leaders of the Churches of Jerusalem, Mullally insisted that the mission of Christians consists in standing alongside those who suffer and offering a common witness to the Gospel in a region marked by decades of conflict.
Invitation to the heads of the Churches to Canterbury
The Anglican Primate took advantage of the meeting to invite Patriarch Theophilos III and the other heads of the Churches of Jerusalem to visit Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the aim of strengthening relations among the various Christian confessions and continuing ecumenical dialogue.
Mullally stated that she understands her ministry as a service oriented toward fostering hope, reconciliation, and unity among Christians, affirming that the Church must face the world’s suffering “with honesty and hope” and maintain trust “in the reconciling power of Christ.”