Archbishop praises Pope's anti-war comments during Vatican visit

The Archbishop of Canterbury has praised Pope Leo for speaking out against injustice after the pair's historic meeting at the Vatican.

Dame Sarah Mullally, the first woman to lead the Church of England, met Pope Leo at the Apostolic Palace on Monday, and told the pontiff he would receive a "warm welcome" if he were to visit the UK.

In an address following a private discussion between the two religious leaders, she said they were united in prayer for justice and for "peace in our world".

It follows the Pope's warning earlier this month that the world is being "ravaged by a handful of tyrants" as he criticised the cost of war during a visit to Cameroon.

Dame Sarah said: "Your Holiness, you have spoken powerfully about the many injustices in our world today, but you have spoken even more powerfully about hope."

The meeting comes weeks after US President Donald Trump accused the Pope of being "weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy".

Pope Leo had voiced concerns over Trump's threat that "a whole civilisation will die" if Iran did not agree to US demands to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, a threat which was averted after the two sides agreed to a ceasefire.

The pontiff said he would continue to "speak out loudly against war" and promote peace.

Dame Sarah said the Pope's message "reminded us that despite our sufferings, people long for life in all its fullness and countless people are working each day for this vision of the common good".

She also told him that King Charles III had "valued his recent visit", after the two men prayed together in October.

The symbolic moment was the first time a British monarch had prayed at a public service with the head of the Catholic Church since the Reformation.

Dame Sarah told the Pope: "Please be assured of a warm welcome from the Church of England should you honour the United Kingdom with a visit."

Pope Leo, the first American-born man to lead the Catholic Church, has recently returned from a trip to Africa, where he visited four nations.

His pilgrimage was "full of life and joy", the Archbishop said.