Bishop Anthony Ball, the personal representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See, has taken a voluntary leave of absence following allegations of bullying. Ball, who has served as director of the Anglican Centre in Rome since 2025, was appointed to his role by Archbishop Dame Sarah Mullally in April.
The allegations emerged after a long-serving staff member resigned and sent an open letter to the center's governors and the Archbishop detailing concerns about Ball's conduct. A source described the center as being run on a tight budget, with staff allegedly facing harsh criticism for minor issues, including perceived errors during diplomatic events.
A spokesperson for the Anglican Centre confirmed that an investigation is underway in response to concerns raised with the governors. The director's leave of absence is ongoing, and the center has stated it cannot comment further during the investigation.
The Anglican Centre, established in 1966 to promote unity between Anglicans and Roman Catholics, has faced controversy before. In 2018, its then-director, Bishop Bernard Ntahoturi, stepped down following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Separately, King Charles made history last year by praying with Pope Leo in the Vatican, marking the first time a head of the Church of England had worshipped with a pontiff since the break with Rome initiated by Henry VIII 500 years ago. This outreach effort by Archbishop Mullally has been overshadowed by the current situation concerning her appointee in Rome.