LONDON (EFE).— The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, will walk the 140 kilometers that separate London from Canterbury on a six-day pilgrimage before formally taking over as spiritual leader of the Anglican Church next Wednesday the 25th.
The walk will follow the historic Becket Way, a route that crosses the south-east of England and recalls the path associated with Thomas Becket, primate of the Church in the 12th century.
Mullally, 63, became the first woman to hold this position in the history of the Anglican Church and will also be the first archbishop to undertake this tour in the modern era. “For centuries, worshipers have flocked to Canterbury and I will reflect this tradition as we make our way through the countryside of Kent and its towns,” he said.
The pilgrimage will begin the day after tomorrow at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, where Mullally will begin the journey accompanied by her husband Eamonn.
Both are expected to arrive in Canterbury on Sunday the 22nd, three days before the official enthronement ceremony. Along the way, the archbishop will make stops to celebrate masses in churches, abbeys and cathedrals, in addition to visiting schools and religious organizations.
The naming ceremony will be held on Wednesday the 25th at Canterbury Cathedral, where Mullally will deliver her first homily as archbishop.
Although King Charles III is the official head of the Anglican Church, Prince William of Wales will attend on his behalf along with Princess Catherine.
Mullally said she felt “deeply honored to be able to follow in the footsteps of all those who have walked this ancient route before.”
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