In a moment laden with religious and historical symbolism, King Charles III has become the first British monarch and head of the Church of England to publicly pray alongside a pope.
The unprecedented event took place on Thursday within the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, marking a gesture of Christian reconciliation almost five centuries after England’s separation from the Roman Catholic Church under King Henry VIII.
Accompanied by Queen Camilla, the King met privately with Pope Leo XIV in the papal library before attending a joint ecumenical service co-presided over by the pontiff and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell of York.
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At midday (1000 GMT), solemn Latin chants and English prayers echoed beneath Michelangelo’s renowned frescoes as Anglican and Catholic choirs from St George’s Chapel, Windsor, the Royal Chapel, and the Sistine Chapel Choir sang together in an unprecedented act of unity.
A Gesture of Healing Centuries of Division
The service represents the first public act of prayer between a British monarch and a pope since 1534, when Henry VIII’s break from Rome reshaped Christianity across Europe.
As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Charles’s participation carried deep spiritual and diplomatic resonance. Religious scholars view the encounter as a symbolic healing of history, rather than a theological reunion.
“This moment offers a kind of healing of history,” said Rev. James Hawkey, Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey. “It would have been impossible just a generation ago.”
Shared Focus on Climate and Creation
The joint prayer centred on care for creation, a theme close to both leaders’ hearts. King Charles, a lifelong advocate for the environment, and Pope Leo XIV, known for his encyclicals on ecological justice, used the occasion to highlight the shared Christian duty to protect the planet.
Mutual Honours Bind Ecumenical Ties
Following the service, the Pope conferred upon King Charles the honorary title of “Royal Confrater” at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The distinction includes a reserved seat in the basilica’s apse, adorned with the King’s coat of arms and the ecumenical motto Ut unum sint (“That they may be one”).
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In return, Charles awarded Pope Leo the title of “Papal Confrater” of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and presented him with the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, one of Britain’s highest honours.
Context: Challenges Within Anglicanism
The timing of this visit comes amid internal shifts within the Church of England, following the appointment of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury. The move has generated debate among traditionalists, highlighting tensions within the Anglican Communion over doctrine, gender, and authority.
At home, the royal family continues to face public scrutiny over Prince Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, making the Vatican visit a welcome diplomatic and spiritual respite that repositions the monarchy on the world stage.
A Step Forward for Vatican–UK Relations
The Vatican has described the encounter as a milestone in Anglican–Catholic relations, which have warmed steadily since the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s. Though major theological divides persist, including women’s ordination, priestly celibacy, and LGBTQ inclusion. Thursday’s service affirmed a shared commitment to dialogue and understanding.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to continue engagements in Rome, meeting Vatican officials, environmental advocates, and interfaith leaders to promote cooperation on climate action and global peace.
