The Vatican

Pope and Charles III share a historic prayer in the Sistine Chapel

According to Buckingham Palace, it is the first time since the Reformation in the early 16th century that the Pope and a British monarch have prayed together in an ecumenical service at the Vatican.

OSV / Omnes-October 23, 2025-Reading time: 3 minutes
Charles III

©CNS photo/Vatican Media

By Cindy Wooden, OSV.

Pope Leo XIV received King Charles III of Great Britain and Queen Camilla at the Vatican for a unique visit that combined solemn ceremonies and a historic moment of prayer in the Sistine Chapel.

From the moment the royal couple arrived Oct. 23 in the St. Damasus Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, the high formality of the official visit was evident as a larger-than-usual contingent of Swiss Guards welcomed the king and queen, and the Vatican police band played the Vatican anthem and «God Save the King,» which is the British national anthem.

Gift exchange

After a private meeting, Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III exchanged gifts: a mosaic of Christ for the king and an icon of St. Edward the Confessor for the pope. They also gave each other framed and autographed photos.

But the two also exchanged the highest honors. Charles III conferred on the pope the «Grand Cross of Knight of the Order of the Bath», which is traditionally awarded to heads of state, and the pope conferred on the king the «Grand Cross of Knight with Collar of the Vatican Order of Pope Pius IX». Pope Leo XIV named Queen Camilla a Dame of the same order.

Their Majesties had originally planned to make the visit in April, coinciding with a state visit to Italy. While the Italian part of their trip went ahead as planned, they only briefly visited the Vatican to greet Pope Francis, who passed away a few weeks later.

Prayer in the Sistine

After the private meeting and exchange of gifts, Pope Leo XIV and Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell of York, the highest-ranking prelate of the Church of England, led the midday prayer in the Sistine Chapel with a focus on «care for creation.».

Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop Cottrell sat in front of the altar, under Michelangelo's Last Judgment, during the prayer service, while the king and queen sat slightly to one side.

The singers from the Sistine Chapel choir were joined by adults from the choir of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and children from the choir of the Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace in London.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and Archbishop Leo Cushley of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, representing the Catholic bishops of Scotland, and the Rev. Rosie Frew, moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, joined the king and queen for the prayer service.

Briefing reporters on the visit, Archbishop Flavio Pace, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, said the moments of prayer and the exchange of honors were clear signs of the progress made in Catholic-Anglican relations since the 1960s.

Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III left the Sistine Chapel together and headed to the adjoining Sala Regia to meet with business leaders and activists committed to fighting climate change and promoting sustainability.

The Pope personally accompanied the King back to the courtyard of St. Damasus, where his «Bentley State Limousine,» an armored vehicle used for formal visits, awaited him and the Queen.

Issues addressed

As usual, the Vatican press office did not provide any information about the private conversation between the Pope and the King.

However, in a meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the press office indicated that «issues of common interest were discussed, such as the protection of the environment and the fight against poverty.».

Particular attention was given to the shared commitment to promote peace and security in the face of global challenges, according to the statement. And, recalling the history of the Church in the United Kingdom, it reflected on the need to continue to promote ecumenical dialogue.

Visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls

After leaving the Vatican, King Charles III and Queen Camilla went to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome and went through the Holy Door, prayed at the tomb of St. Paul and attended another prayer service.

With the approval of Pope Leo XIV, King Charles III was recognized as a «royal confrere» of the basilica, a decision made by the American Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of the basilica, and the Benedictine Abbot Donato Ogliari, in charge of the monastery of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

In return, Buckingham Palace said, «with the King's approval, the Dean and Canons of St. George's College Windsor have offered that Pope Leo XIV become a ‘papal confrere’ of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and the Pope has accepted.».

«These mutual gifts of ‘fellowship’ are acknowledgements of spiritual companionship and are a profound symbol of the path that the Church of England - of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor - and the Roman Catholic Church have traveled over the past 500 years,» the palace said in a statement.

The authorOSV / Omnes

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