As a Roman Catholic and an honorary Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, I have been drawn to the thoughts of another Fellow of Oriel, John Henry Newman. I have read his works closely and admire him as a priest of the Church of England and, later, as a priest, and Cardinal, of the Roman Catholic Church.

Newman was always strictly faithful to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and to the tradition of the Fathers of the Church. Following his example as a Roman Catholic, I have always had great admiration for the Church of England, our sister church in Christ, and I have always hoped that one day the way to the reunification of our Churches in a single Holy, Catholic and Universal Church would be finally opened.

This hope I share with many members of the Roman Catholic Church and, I believe, with the Holy See and with many members of the Church of England as well.

However, the decision taken by the General Synod of Church of England to admit women to the order of priesthood was a blow to that hope. And that is why I constantly pray that God will inspire Anglican bishops, priests, deacons and lay people who lead the Church of England not to admit women to the episcopate.

May they think again on this proposal to consecrate women as bishops. May they not forsake the practice originating from the Holy Scriptures, the ecumenical councils and the uninterrupted tradition

that we have inherited from the Apostles. I believe that such a decision would remove the Church of England — though not other Churches of the Anglican Communion — from the ancient tradition, away from the teachings of the church fathers and of the holy councils. Such a decision, I believe, would be fatal to any possibility of reunification, and it would bury any possibility of seeing a return of the spirit of Pusey, Newman, Keble, Wilberforce and the Oxford Movement.

Senator Francesco Cossiga was President of the Republic of Italy, 1985-92