King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV prayed side by side in the Sistine Chapel today, becoming the first reigning English monarch and pope to do so since the English Reformation in the 16th century. It is also the first time an English monarch has partaken in a religious service with the pope, Bishop of Rome, since 855, when Æthelwulf, King of Wessex, was in Rome for the inauguration of Pope Leo IV.
The event was deeply symbolic. It took place beneath Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling — the same space where new popes are elected — and marked a significant gesture of goodwill between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, two institutions historically divided since the 16th century.
The king, who has spoken openly about promoting religious understanding, attended the service alongside Queen Consort Camilla during an official state visit timed with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee — a ceremonial year that focuses on forgiveness and spiritual renewal.
King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV share historic prayer
Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell led the prayers, alternating between Latin and English. The Sistine Chapel echoed with harmonies from both Anglican and Catholic choirs, representing a rare union of two religious traditions long separated by history.
The royal couple sat in formal gold chairs, quietly participating in the solemn service. While religious ceremonies between the two faiths have taken place privately in the past, this public moment stood apart, drawing praise from scholars and religious leaders alike.
Historians said the sight of a British monarch praying in the Vatican — particularly in such a sacred and politically loaded location — carried a message of reconciliation. It also reflected King Charles’s commitment to fostering understanding across religious boundaries, a theme he has prioritized throughout his reign.
King Charles joined Pope Leo XIV in prayer, becoming the first British monarch to do so since Luther’s Reformation five centuries ago.
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England and the Catholic Church, a historic and tumultuous relationship
The separation of the English Church from the Catholic Church began in the 16th century during the reign of King Henry VIII. Originally a Catholic, Henry broke with Rome after Pope Clement VII refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Determined to secure a male heir and assert his authority, Henry declared himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England through the Act of Supremacy in 1534.
This marked England’s formal break from papal control and the beginning of the English Reformation. The dissolution of monasteries soon followed, transferring vast church lands and wealth to the crown. Although the new church retained many Catholic traditions at first, it gradually adopted Protestant doctrines under later monarchs, especially Edward VI and Elizabeth I.
Meetings between English monarchs and Popes are rare occurrences in history. After the meeting between Aethelwulf and Pope Leo IV in 855, King Canute (also known as Cnut), King of Denmark and England, attended the imperial coronation of Emperor Conrad II by Pope John XIX in Rome in 1027. More than two centuries later, Edward I met Pope Gregory X in Orvieto in February 1273. Following the English Reformation, it was not until 1923 that King George V and Queen Mary had a 25-minute audience with Pope Pius XI at the Vatican.
In recent times, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British and English monarch, met several Popes during her reign, including Pope John XXIII (1961), Pope John Paul II (State Visit in 1980 and visit to the UK in 1982), Pope Benedict XVI (visit to the UK in 2010), and Pope Francis (visit to the Vatican in 2014).
Balancing faith and modern challenges
The visit came during a complicated period for the British royal family. Public scrutiny has intensified following renewed focus on Prince Andrew’s past association with late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In response, King Charles recently moved to strip Andrew of his Duke of York title — a decision seen by some as a statement of accountability.
Despite those pressures, the king’s Vatican trip centered on unity and interfaith cooperation. Since becoming monarch in 2022, Charles has met with Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Christian leaders across the United Kingdom.
His inclusive approach to faith was once controversial, especially after his 1994 remarks suggesting he saw himself as a “defender of faiths” rather than the traditional title of “Defender of the Faith.” He later clarified that honoring different beliefs does not weaken Christian values but can strengthen mutual respect.
Later in the day, King Charles attended another service at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. There, the Vatican awarded him an honorary title and gifted a custom-made chair engraved with the Latin words Ut unum sint — meaning “That they may be one.”
Vatican representatives described the services as a step toward deeper dialogue, not necessarily agreement, but mutual respect despite doctrinal differences.
Although major theological divisions between the Anglican and Catholic churches remain, the moment marked a step forward. Experts said the act of joint prayer — modest in action but historic in context — may inspire further cooperation between two of Christianity’s most influential institutions.