Britain’s King Charles and Pope Leo XIV engaged in a joint prayer session at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican on Thursday. This historic event marked the first time an English monarch and a Catholic pontiff united in worship since King Henry VIII’s separation from Rome in 1534. The chapel resonated with Latin chants and English prayers as the service, led by Leo and Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, unfolded. Charles, the supreme governor of the Church of England, sat beside the Pope near the chapel’s altar, accompanied by the Sistine Chapel Choir and two royal choirs.
Despite previous encounters between Charles and the last three popes, joint prayers had never been part of their interactions before. Charles and Queen Camilla also held a private meeting with Leo earlier on Thursday. The visit, initially planned for earlier in the year but postponed due to Pope Francis’s illness and passing, aimed to coincide with the 2025 Holy Year, a significant celebration in Christianity occurring once every 25 years. This visit symbolizes a strengthening of ties between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, bridging the gap of their separation five centuries ago.
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, stood in for Sarah Mullally at the Sistine Chapel service. Mullally, recently appointed as the first woman to lead the Anglican Church as Archbishop of Canterbury, will assume her role next year. Later in the day, King Charles will visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, where Pope Leo will confer upon him the title of “Royal Confrater” and present him with a specially designated seat in the basilica’s apse.
The honours exchanged between the Anglican and Catholic Churches signify their dedication to a collaborative future, as expressed by Bishop Anthony Ball, the Anglican representative to the Vatican. Additionally, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles had bestowed two British honours upon Pope Leo. This gesture reflects the commitment of both Churches to work together towards mutual goals.
The split between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, formalized in 1534 during King Henry VIII’s reign, arose from various factors, including the refusal to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon by Pope Clement VII. The historic event at the Vatican represents a significant step forward in the relationship between these two Christian traditions.
