The Episcopal Church traces its history through the Church of England, which broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century over theological and political issues. Since 1965, we have been in dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church through the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue in the U.S.A., as well as on an international level through the Anglican Communion Office in the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Consultations; and International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission. 

In 2006, then-Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI signed a declaration renewing the historic commitment of the two churches to “full visible communion in the truth of Christ.” 

Below, find links to resources and information about our ongoing dialogue, which has focused on topics including the Eucharist and, most recently, reconciliation.