King Charles has made history by becoming the first reigning British monarch to pray publicly with a pope since Henry VIII’s break from Rome in 1534. The monarch and Queen Camilla joined Pope Leo for a service in the Sistine Chapel, under Michelangelo’s frescoes, marking a significant step in reconciliation between the Catholic and Anglican churches.
The service blended Catholic and Anglican traditions, beginning with the Lord’s Prayer in English. Hymns were sung by the Sistine Chapel choir and members of the St George’s Chapel choir of Windsor Castle and the children’s choir of the Chapel Royal of St James’s Palace. Before the service, the king joked about the cameras, to which Pope Leo responded, “You get used to it.”
The visit has drawn criticism. Reverend Kyle Paisley, a Free Presbyterian cleric from Northern Ireland, said the king should abdicate if he prayed with the pope, arguing it broke his oath to uphold the Protestant faith. The Independent Loyal Orange Institution also expressed “deep concern.”
Charles and Camilla also visited the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where the king was granted the title “royal confrater” – a recognition of spiritual fellowship. The royal couple last visited the Vatican in April for a surprise meeting with the late Pope Francis. Charles wanted to return before the end of the Jubilee 2025, a year of reflection held every 25 years.
Vatican correspondents noted the symbolic importance of the visit, with Hendro Munsterman saying it “symbolises that there is a communion and respect between the two.” Iacopo Scaramuzzi observed that the king appeared eager to meet Pope Leo early in his pontificate, unlike other leaders.
