Primate of Brazil, Marinez Bassotto leads Anglican delegation for funeral of Pope Francis

Posted on: April 25, 2025 10:13 AM

The Most Reverend Marinez Bassotto, Primate of the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil, Regional Primate for the Americas

Related Categories: Americas, Anglican Communion, Brazil, Europe and Middle East, Global, pope francis

A delegation from the Anglican Communion is in Rome this weekend to attend the funeral of Pope Francis and represent the condolences of Anglicans around the world to the Catholic community.

The delegation will be led by an Archbishop from Latin America, the Most Reverend Marinez Bassotto, Primate of the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil, Regional Primate for the Americas.

The delegation consists of senior clergy and lay leaders of the Anglican Communion and those who lead the fruitful ecumenical work between Anglicans and Roman Catholics at the international level. The co-chairs of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) will both be present. Archbishop Marinez is also involved in IARCCUM and is paired with a Roman Catholic Bishop in Brazil.

Reflecting on the death of Pope Francis, Archbishop Marinez stated, “It is an honour to give thanks for the amazing life and ministry of Pope Francis, who was the first Latin American Pope. He was a humble servant who embodied a message of peace and love. His example calls Christians to walk together in unity and to serve the poor and marginalised. At his funeral, we bring with us the prayers and tributes of Anglicans across the globe."

Archbishop Marinez also serves on the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion as the regional Primate for the Americas. The five-person Primates’ Standing Committee helps to support the Anglican Communion pastorally and to represent the Communion ecumenically.

In January 2018, Archbishop Marinez was elected as diocesan bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Amazon, and consecrated bishop on April 21, 2018, becoming the first woman to exercise this ministry in the Anglican Church in South America. She was then elected as Primate of Brazil in 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position in 132 years of the church in Brazil. She is also the third woman to become a Primate in the global Anglican Communion.

Learn more about the delegation from the Anglican Communion.