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Archbishop of Canterbury backs Pope Francis as Time's Person of the Year Archbishop of Canterbury backs Pope Francis as Time's Person of the Year
(about 3 hours later)
The archbishop of Canterbury has supported Time magazine's decision to name Pope Francis as its Person of the Year.The archbishop of Canterbury has supported Time magazine's decision to name Pope Francis as its Person of the Year.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Justin Welby described the pope, who he met earlier this year, as "an extraordinary man". Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Justin Welby described the pope, whom he met this year, as "an extraordinary man".
"I think it is fair to say the Catholic church is 20 times bigger than the entire Anglican Communion and I wouldn't want to compare ourselves, or myself, to him in any way at all," he said."I think it is fair to say the Catholic church is 20 times bigger than the entire Anglican Communion and I wouldn't want to compare ourselves, or myself, to him in any way at all," he said.
"The pope has been hugely effective – he is an extraordinary man, quite brilliant in what he does. He has changed the sense of direction and purpose of the Catholic church with his personal example and his words.""The pope has been hugely effective – he is an extraordinary man, quite brilliant in what he does. He has changed the sense of direction and purpose of the Catholic church with his personal example and his words."
Welby warned of a change in attitude towards the Christian faith but said he is extremely hopeful for the future of the Church of England. Welby warned of a change in attitude towards the Christian faith but said he was "extremely hopeful" for the future of the Church of England.
The Church was falling in numbers but there were also signs of growth in many places throughout the country, the archbishop said. The church was falling in numbers but there were also signs of growth in many places throughout the country, the archbishop said.
He added that even non-believers were telling him that the C of E was acting as a glue holding communities together in many places.He added that even non-believers were telling him that the C of E was acting as a glue holding communities together in many places.
"I am extremely hopeful about the future of the church for a number of reasons. The first is because we rely on God and not our own efforts, and secondly because there are signs of growth in many places and particularly at the local level," he told Today."I am extremely hopeful about the future of the church for a number of reasons. The first is because we rely on God and not our own efforts, and secondly because there are signs of growth in many places and particularly at the local level," he told Today.
"There is a lot of change happening; there is a lot of new progress and a lot of momentum," he said. "There is a lot of change happening; there is a lot of new progress and a lot of momentum."
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