1.
GV ST. PAULS BASILICA
0.05

2.
GV PROCESSION ARRIVES IN BASILICA
0.17

3.
CU POPE PAN TO ARCHBISHOP READS SPEECH
0.30

4.
GV CONGREGATION
0.35

5.
GV BASILICA
0.42

6.
SV SCROLLS PRESENTED
0.55

7.
GV CONGREGATION
0.59

8.
SV POPE GIVES BLESSING
1.27

9.
GV INT..BASILICA
1.32



Initials RGM/V/RM/EEH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE PRIMATE OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, DR. MICHAEL RAMSEY, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, AND POPE JOHN PAUL OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, TODAY (THURSDAY) SIGNED A JOINT DECLARATION IN ROME, PLEDGING THE WORLD'S TWO BIGGEST CHRISTIAN GROUPS TO BEGIN TALKS ON THEOLOGICAL AND PRACTICAL WAYS OF ACHIEVING UNITY. THEY ALSO JOINED IN A COMBINED ACT OF WORSHIP.

THE DECLARATION WAS SIGNED AT A CEREMONY IN THE BASILICA OF ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS BEFORE ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE.

THE CEREMONY ENDED THE ARCHBISHOP'S THREE-DAY VISIT TO ROME FOR DISCUSSIONS ON CHURCH UNITY WITH THE POPE. IT WAS ATTENDED BY 28 CARDINALS, IN ADDITION TO OTHER ROMAN CATHOLIC AND ANGLICAN CHURCHMEN.

BOTH POPE AND ARCHBISHOP LED PRAYERS DURING THE JOINT ACT OF WORSHIP, WITH THE SERVICE CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH, LATIN AND ITALIAN.

THE SERVICE STARTED WITH THE SINGING IN LATIN OF THE HYMN, "VENI CREATOR", WHICH IS COMMON TO BOTH CHURCHES, AND ENDED WITH THE RECITAL OF THE "LORD'S PRAYER" BY THE CONGREGATION - EACH MEMBER SPEAKING THE WORDS IN HIS OR HER OWN LANGUAGE AT THE REQUEST OF THE POPE.

THE JOINT DECLARATION OF PURPOSE MARKED A RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE TWO CHURCHES AFTER FOUR HUNDRED YEARS OF DISCORD AND, OFTEN, BITTER HOSTILITY.

AS THE ARCHBISHOP DROVE AWAY FROM THE BASILICA, A TRIO OF BRITISH PROTESTANT DEMONSTRATORS, WHO HAD BEEN DOGGING HIS STEPS DURING HIS VISIT, OPENED THEIR OVERCOATS TO REVEAL WHITE WAISTCOATS EMBLAZONED, "ARCHBISHOP RAMSEY A TRAITOR TO PROTESTANT BRITAIN".