Archbishop Welby, Cardinal Nichols attend Christian Leadership Conference

Nicky Gumbell interviews the two leaders

Unity among Christians releases a power that is "impossible to exaggerate", Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby told the Leadership Conference 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall last week. The Archbishop was speaking during an on-stage interview with Nicky Gumbel, Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, alongside Cardinal Vincent Nichols.

"The Church, when it is visibly united, speaks more powerfully to the world, by the grace of the Spirit of God, than we can ever begin to imagine," Archbishop Justin said. "We cripple our witness when we are not united. And we release a power of witness in the world - to who Jesus is, to hope, to life, for the poor, for people caught up in conflict and destruction - through our unity, that is impossible to exaggerate. That is the way that we will see the world brought face to face with Jesus Christ."

The Archbishop spoke of the "huge influence" Cardinal Nichols had had on him, and of Pope Francis's "profound sense of global wisdom" and "deep commitment to human relationship, and above all relationship with the poor and those on the edge."

He also spoke of the "extraordinary experience" of having members of the international ecumenical foundation Chemin Neuf living at Lambeth Palace, and of the formation of the Community of St Anselm, where Christians from Catholic and Protestant denominations aged 20-35 will be invited to live as a monastic-inspired community for twelve months. The Community of St Anselm, he said, was "trying to live out, in practice, across the whole church - not just with Anglicans - the reality of joy and celebration and prayer, and meeting Christ and serving the poor and thinking about what it is to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ."

During the interview Cardinal Vincent described his own journey of faith, which began as a child in a committed Catholic family in Liverpool, and he said, is continuing today.

At the end of the joint interview, Cardinal Nichols and Archbishop Justin each say a prayer. Listen to the complete interview here: https://soundcloud.com/lambethpalace/archbishop-justin-welby-and-cardinal-vincent-nichols-on-christian-unity