Pope laments ‘scandalous’ Church divide

The centuries-old divide between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church is a "scandal", Pope Francis said as he met the Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome.

The leader of 1.2bn Catholics worldwide said a goal of full unity between the two churches “may seem distant” but it remained an aim that should direct “every step”.

He said progress towards full unity would not be the result of human actions alone, but would be a “free gift of God”.