King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV to Hold Historic Prayer Service in Sistine Chapel

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla are scheduled to visit the Vatican on October 22-23, 2025, for a state visit with Pope Leo XIV. This meeting will include an ecumenical prayer service in the Sistine Chapel, focusing on the shared commitment to environmental stewardship.

The visit, originally planned for April, was postponed due to the final illness of Pope Francis. During the rescheduled trip, King Charles will be honored with the title "Royal Confrater" at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, a recognition of the longstanding ties between the British Crown and the Benedictine abbey associated with the basilica.

The ecumenical prayer service on October 23 will be the first time since the Reformation that the heads of the Catholic Church and the Church of England pray together. The service will feature hymns sung by members of the royal choirs alongside the Sistine Chapel choir.

The Archbishop of Canterbury-designate, Sarah Mullally, will not attend the service as she has not yet been formally installed. In her place, the Archbishop of York will preside alongside Pope Leo XIV.

This visit underscores the ongoing efforts toward greater unity between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, which have been divided since the 16th century. The focus on environmental stewardship highlights a shared concern for the care of creation.