King Charles III made history by becoming the first British monarch to pray publicly with a pope, joining Pope Leo XIV for a service in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. This landmark event marks a significant rapprochement between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, 500 years after the schism. The 30-minute service mixed Catholic and Anglican traditions, with the Sistine Chapel choir joined by that from Saint George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. King Charles, who is officially supreme governor of the Church of England, sat alongside Pope Leo and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, the senior cleric of the Church of England, as they led the service focusing on conservation and protecting the environment, a cause long championed by Charles.
The visit is part of King Charles’ two-day state visit to the Vatican, where he also met privately with Pope Leo and discussed issues of climate sustainability. This historic moment is a testament to the improving ties between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, which have been steadily growing since the 1960s. The event is also seen as a celebration of the Papal Jubilee, a year-long event held every 25 years, which has drawn millions of pilgrims to the Vatican. As a gesture of hospitality and ecumenical welcome, King Charles was conferred the title of “Royal Confrater” of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, and presented with a specially designed seat for use by him and future British monarchs.
