THE Archbishop of York and the RC Bishop of Middlesbrough, the Rt Revd Terry Drainey, led an ecumenical pilgrimage through York on Wednesday, inspired by the late Pope Francis’s call to “walk together, work together, and pray together”.
The pilgrimage, which culminated in an ecumenical service at York Minster, was to mark Pope Francis’s Jubilee Year 2025, the theme of which is “Pilgrims of Hope”.
Archbishop Cottrell and Bishop Drainey walked together from the shrine of St Margaret Clitherow, on The Shambles, and met pilgrims gathered on the south door of the Minster.
The ecumenical service included the renewal of baptismal guarantees, and drew on each Anglican and Roman Catholic liturgies.
Before the service, Archbishop Cottrell said: “When I met with the late Pope Francis, he encouraged us to walk together, work together, and pray together. This opportunity to assemble in York Minster is doing just that. We are all a part of the family of God — sisters and brothers on the Way.”
Bishop Drainey said: “In this 12 months once we mark the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, it is particularly meaningful to face alongside each other and profess together: This is our faith; that is the religion of the Church, and we’re proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.”
The Archbishop concluded: “It was an incredible joy to be present at Pope Leo’s installation mass, and I used to be greatly encouraged when he expressed his commitment to searching for the re-establishment of full and visual communion amongst all those that profess the identical faith in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I look ahead to this time of prayer, friendship, and shared witness as we construct stronger bridges across our traditions.”
