The Archbishop of Canterbury has championed the importance of churches in providing healthcare and promoting peace, during a visit to the United Nations. 

Most Rev Sarah Mullally met with Secretary General António Guterres, who praised the role of the Anglican Communion and faith organisations as being humanitarian agents in addressing poverty, peacekeeping, and access to education and medical services. She also thanked Guterres for UN’s work with women, children and displaced people.

With UN and UNICEF directors, Archbishop Sarah discussed building trust between churches and government agencies, to help respond to the likes of Ebola, infant mortality and fragile healthcare systems. They also considered the Communion’s role in providing healthcare, sanitation and training in communities worldwide. 

Drawing on her nursing background, Archbishop Sarah also hosted a roundtable on the role of churches in protecting hospitals and health staff during armed conflict. 

She told attendees: “For many people of faith, protection of the sick and those who treat them is non-negotiable, and faith groups are instrumental in reaching vulnerable populations. Faith groups are in these places, they know the problems - and so they often know the solutions. They are trusted by their communities, and so it is so important that we establish networks with faith leaders to ensure that healthcare provision continues even in the deadliest of conflicts. I hope that faith leaders globally and communities of faith locally can be partners in these efforts.”

The roundtable was attended by International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Health Organisation, field experts and representatives of UN member states 

The meetings were part of the Archbishop’s four-day visit to the United States, to meet members of the Episcopal Church. She met Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe at a meeting of the House of Bishops in the Diocese of Texas, before worshipping with congregations in New York and Connecticut.