King Charles III met Pope Leo XIV during a state visit to the Vatican, marking the first time a head of the Church of England will pray publicly with a pontiff. The 76-year-old monarch, supreme governor of the Church of England, arrived in Rome with Queen Camilla for the historic trip. They were welcomed at the Apostolic Palace by the Swiss Guard before a private meeting with Leo in the papal library.
The royals will join an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel, led by Pope Leo and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, focusing on conservation and environmental protection, a cause championed by Charles. The service, broadcast live, will feature choirs from the Sistine Chapel and Saint George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, blending Catholic and Anglican traditions.
The visit follows the 16th-century schism when King Henry VIII broke with Rome, making the monarch head of the Church of England. Despite theological differences, such as the Church of England’s ordination of women and allowance of priestly marriage, recent decades have seen significant rapprochement. The law was changed in 2013 to allow heirs to the throne to marry Catholics without losing eligibility.
Charles and Camilla will also participate in a service at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where Charles will be named a “Royal Confrater” and receive a specially designed seat for use by future British monarchs.
