Justin Welby Resigns as Archbishop of Canterbury

Justin Welby has officially stepped down as Archbishop of Canterbury, following an independent review that criticized his handling of abuse allegations against John Smyth, a notorious serial abuser linked to the Church. The review indicated that Smyth might have faced legal consequences earlier had Welby reported him to authorities in 2013. During his resignation, Welby faced backlash for making light of serious issues in his farewell speech at the House of Lords, prompting an apology for any distress caused to abuse survivors. His final day included attending services at Lambeth Palace, where he symbolically laid down his bishop's crozier. The search for his successor will be led by Lord Evans of Weardale, with a new archbishop expected to be chosen in several months. This resignation marks a significant crisis for the Church of England as it grapples with trust and accountability issues in its leadership.