Britain’s King Charles and Pope Leo XIV participated in a joint prayer session in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, marking a historic moment as the first such gathering between an English monarch and a Catholic pontiff since King Henry VIII’s separation from Rome in 1534. The sacred atmosphere reverberated with Latin chants and English prayers as Leo, the first American pope, was elected six months ago amidst Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes illustrating Christ’s Last Judgment.
Seated beside the Pope near the chapel’s altar, Charles, the supreme governor of the Church of England, joined hands with Leo and Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell to lead a service that included performances by the Sistine Chapel Choir and two royal choirs. This unprecedented event followed Charles’s previous meetings with the last three popes, although prior encounters with Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI did not involve shared prayers.
Before the joint worship, Charles and Queen Camilla held a private meeting with Pope Leo on Thursday morning. Originally planned for an earlier date, the royal couple’s visit was rescheduled due to Pope Francis’s illness and subsequent passing. Charles had expressed a strong desire to visit the Vatican during the 2025 Holy Year, an event that occurs once every 25 years, symbolizing a significant step in strengthening the bond between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion after centuries of separation.
The visit is seen as a symbolic gesture towards reconciliation and unity, with Anglican Rev. James Hawkey emphasizing the historic significance of the event as a healing of past divisions. Archbishop Cottrell, standing in for Sarah Mullally, the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, underscored the progress made in inter-church dialogue over the past six decades.
Later in the day, King Charles will journey to Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where Pope Leo will confer upon him the title of “Royal Confrater” and present him with a specially designated seat adorned with the king’s coat of arms and the motto “Ut unum sint” (That they may be one). These gestures reflect the mutual commitment of both Churches to fostering a collaborative future.
Additionally, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles had bestowed two British honors upon Pope Leo, designating him as the “Papal Confrater” of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and awarding him the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. The historic divide between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, stemming from King Henry VIII’s reign and the subsequent schism in 1534, is gradually being bridged through ongoing efforts to promote unity and understanding between the two Christian traditions.