King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV Hold Historic Joint Prayer at Vatican

King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the Vatican on October 23, 2025, where they were received by Pope Leo XIV. The visit featured an ecumenical prayer service in the Sistine Chapel, marking the first joint prayer between a British monarch and a pope since the Reformation.

The service, focusing on the care of creation, was led by Pope Leo XIV and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. Music was provided by the Sistine Chapel Choir, alongside choristers from the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace and the Choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Following the prayer service, King Charles was honored with the title of 'Royal Confrater' at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, recognizing the historical ties between the British Crown and the Benedictine abbey attached to the basilica. A specially designed chair bearing King Charles’s coat of arms and the Latin inscription 'Ut unum sint' ('That they may be one') was installed in the basilica for the King and his successors to use during future visits.

The visit also included discussions on environmental protection, with Pope Leo and King Charles meeting with business and church leaders in the Apostolic Palace’s Sala Regia to discuss global sustainability issues.

This historic visit underscores the deepening ecumenical relationship between the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church, centuries after their separation in 1534.