This high level meeting is happening at a time when Anglicans and Roman Catholics around the world are exploring the possibilities for further steps toward visible unity. The meeting grows out of a visit by the Most Revd and Rt Hon George L Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, to Pope John. Paul II in December 1996, where, in a Common Declaration, they stated; "it may be opportune at this stage in our journey to consult further about how the relationship between the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church is to progress."

The bishops will gather in private session at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre near Toronto, Ontario, under the joint chairmanship of Archbishop Carey and Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, President of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Each day they will pray and reflect together and the meeting will be supported by the prayers of the faithful around the world.

Ireland will be represented by the Rt Rev Dr S G Poyntz, former Bishop of Connor and the Most Rev Dr A Farquhar, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor. Bishop Poyntz is a former Chairman of the Church Unity Committee of the General Synod, Chairman of the Irish Council of Churches, Co-Chairman of the Irish Inter Church Meeting and Vice President of the British Council of Churches. Bishop Farquhar is currently Chairman of the Roman Catholic Bishops' Commission for Ecumenism.  

Other bishops attending will be from New Zealand, Canada, England, United States, India, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Southern Africa, Uganda, Australia, Brazil and the West Indies, at the invitation of Cardinal Cassidy and Archbishop Carey. They will be joined by two recently appointed co-chairmen for the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC): the Most Revd Frank T Griswold, Primate of the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Most Revd Alexander Brunett, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Seattle.

On Wednesday, May 17, the bishops will join together in public prayer at St Michael's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Toronto, presided by Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic and Bishop Terence Finlay. The Archbishop of Canterbury will be the preacher. This service is open to all.

Other components of the meeting will be the sharing of experiences and reflection on theological dialogue between Anglicans and Roman Catholics. ARCIC, the chief instrument of official dialogue, was set up after the historic meeting in 1966 of the Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI. The international theological work has also fostered significant ecumenical co-operation on the national and local levels of church life. The Commission has produced a series of significant agreed statements, the latest being "The Gift of Authority" which is currently being studied at provincial, national and local levels.