Britain’s King Charles and Pope Leo XIV participated in a joint prayer session at the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, marking a significant moment as it was the first time an English monarch and a Catholic pontiff came together in worship since King Henry VIII’s split from Rome in 1534. The chapel resonated with Latin chants and English prayers as Leo, who became the first U.S. pope six months ago, and Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell led the service. This historic event included the Sistine Chapel Choir and two royal choirs, with Charles, the supreme governor of the Church of England, seated beside the Pope near the chapel’s altar.
Despite Charles meeting the last three popes and previous visits by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI to Britain, this occasion marked the first instance of joint prayers between them. Earlier that day, Charles and Queen Camilla had a private meeting with Leo. The visit had initially been planned for earlier in the year but was rescheduled due to Pope Francis’ illness and subsequent passing.
Charles expressed a strong desire to visit the Vatican during the 2025 Holy Year, a rare celebration in Christianity that occurs every 25 years. This visit signifies a closer bond between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, bridging a divide that originated five centuries ago. The Anglican Rev. James Hawkey described the event as a “healing of history,” highlighting the progress made in church relations over the past 60 years of dialogue.
During the service, Cottrell, standing in for Sarah Mullally, the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, symbolized the evolving roles within the Anglican Church. Charles later visited the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where Leo bestowed upon him the title of “Royal Confrater” and presented him with a specially crafted wooden chair bearing the king’s coat of arms and the motto “Ut unum sint” (That they may be one).
Bishop Anthony Ball, the Anglican representative to the Vatican, emphasized the joint commitment of both churches towards a shared future. In reciprocation, Charles granted Leo two British honors. The divide between the two churches, stemming from events during Henry VIII’s reign in the 16th century, has gradually evolved into a closer relationship, with shared values and an ongoing dialogue to strengthen their connection.
The Church of England, part of the Anglican Communion comprising 46 churches worldwide, has been fostering better relations with the Catholic Church, which boasts 1.4 billion members. Despite differences on issues like ordination of women and clerical celibacy, both traditions have been working towards unity since the 1960s. The split in 1534, triggered by Henry VIII’s marital disputes and other political and religious factors, led to a turbulent period in English history marked by religious persecution and executions amid shifts between Catholicism and Protestantism.
