[Lambeth Palace press release] The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is visiting Mexico on 13^th and 14^th of August 2013 at the invitation of the Most Revd Francisco Moreno, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Mexico and Bishop of Northern Mexico.  This visit forms part of a series of visits to the Primates of the Anglican Communion which Archbishop Justin is to make during his first 18 months as Archbishop.

Arriving in Monterrey in Northern Mexico, Archbishop Justin said:

“I thank God for this opportunity to visit Mexico, to see something of this great nation and to share fellowship with my brothers and sisters of the Anglican Church of Mexico.  I congratulate Archbishop Francisco Moreno on becoming their new Primate and look forward to spending time with him and his people.

“Being the first Archbishop of Canterbury to visit Mexico, I wish to express special appreciation of the witness to Jesus Christ of La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico, and of its participation in the witness of the Anglican Communion as a whole on global challenges such as food security, sustainable development and climate change.

“I look forward to meeting many of our Mexican clergy and people and to seeing the church’s work in action among some of those most marginalised by poverty and insecurity.”

During Archbishop Justin’s visit to Mexico, he will preach at a celebration of the Eucharist in Monterrey and he will also visit the Community of St Jude in Juarez in the State of Nuevo Leon.

Archbishop Justin is traveling with his wife Caroline Welby.  The visit to Mexico concludes a seven-day visit to the Anglican Primates in the region, which included Guatemala and Barbados.