THE Archbishop of York is set to have a one-to-one meeting with the Pope, to help foster relations between the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches.

Dr John Sentamu will visit Italy later this month, when it is hoped he will have a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican.

It is thought such an encounter would be the first involving an Archbishop of York. Although Archbishops of Canterbury have often visited the Vatican, it is far rarer for their York counterparts to do so.

The Rev William Franklin, of the Anglican Centre in Rome, said: "The Archbishop is a very important person, and it's a very important meeting.

"I think it's particularly important at this time as we are looking at the future of Anglicanism. Officials here are very keen to talk about it."

He said building bridges between the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches was important to England, where the churches co-exist side by side. But, he said, the visit also had international relevance, due to ongoing discussions over the future of the Anglican church, and possible splits.

Mr Flack said: "Dr Sentamu will obviously be asked what is the future of Anglicanism. The Vatican wants the Anglican church to stay united."

The visit has been coordinated in part by The Rt Rev John Flack, director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and a native Yorkshireman.

Dr Sentamu will visit Rome during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, arriving on Wednesday, January 23, and departing on Monday, January 28.

He will link up with the Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome who care for street people and see the work of the St Paul's Refugee Centre at Rome's American Episcopal Church.

The Archbishop said: "I am looking forward immensely to my visit to Rome and the varied programme I shall undertake."

The previous Archbishop of York Dr David Hope visited the Vatican in 2000, but as part of a larger delegation. Archbishop Stuart Blanch met Pope John Paul II in 1982, during the Papal visit to Britain.