The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams, has accepted an official invitation to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II in Rome on Friday. He will be the first serving Archbishop of Canterbury to attend a Pope's funeral.

An invitation was received through the Papal Nuncio; Archbishop Rowan said he was 'pleased and honoured' to accept.

The Archbishop has confirmed that he will be wearing the ring presented to his predecessor, Archbishop Michael Ramsey, by Pope Paul VI.

He will travel to Rome on Thursday and will be accompanied by the Revd Andrew Norman, Archbishop's Secretary for International and Ecumenical Affairs and by Mr Jeremy Harris, Archbishop's Secretary for Public Affairs.

The Archbishop will return to the UK on Friday evening.

Lambeth Palace press office:
Tel: 0207 898 1280/1200
Fax: 0207 261 1765
www.archbishopofcanterbury.org

Notes for editors

Texts of the Archbishop's tributes to Pope John Paul II are on the Archbishop's website at:

www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/releases/index.html

The Archbishop visited Pope John Paul II in the autumn of 2003. Material from that meeting is available at:

www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/sermons_speeches/2003/index.html

Dr Williams will be wearing the ring presented by Pope Paul VI to Archbishop Michael Ramsey. The ring had been the gift of the people of Milan to the Pope and was given to Archbishop Ramsey personally by the Pope during their meeting in 1966. Dr Williams will also be wearing a pectoral Cross given to him by Pope John Paul II.

A photograph of the Pope Paul VI ring is available on request from Lambeth Palace