King Charles III to Make Historic Visit, Becomes First English Monarch in 500 Years to Pray with the Pope

King Charles III is set to make history this week as the first head of the Church of England to publicly pray with a pope since the 16th-century split from Rome, when King Henry VIII severed ties with the Catholic Church.

The British monarch departs for a state visit to the Vatican on Wednesday, where he and Queen Camilla will meet Pope Leo XIV for the first time since his election in May, following the death of Pope Francis.

According to Buckingham Palace, the two-day visit “marks a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor.”

The highlight of the trip will be a joint prayer session between the King and the Pope on Thursday — a symbolic act of unity not seen in five centuries. The service, to be held in the Sistine Chapel beneath Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling, will focus on environmental conservation, a cause long championed by King Charles.

The event will blend Catholic and Anglican traditions, featuring a joint performance by the Sistine Chapel Choir and the choir of Saint George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, one of the royal family’s residences.

“It is a historic event principally because the king is supreme governor of the Church of England and required by law to be a Protestant,”
said Professor William Gibson of Oxford Brookes University.
“From 1536 to 1914 there were no formal diplomatic relations between the UK and the Holy See, and the mission only became an embassy in 1982.”

As part of the visit, Charles and Camilla will also participate in an ecumenical service at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. There, the King will be formally named a ‘Royal Confrater’ of the adjoining abbey — a gesture described by the palace as symbolising “spiritual communion” between the Anglican and Catholic faiths.

A special seat will be installed in the basilica for King Charles III, to be reserved for future British monarchs.

The visit coincides with preparations for the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year, held every 25 years and expected to attract millions of pilgrims to the Vatican.

However, the historic occasion comes at a sensitive time for the British monarchy. The King continues to receive cancer treatment disclosed earlier in 2024, while his brother Prince Andrew faces renewed scrutiny after the publication of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, which repeats allegations of sexual abuse linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew recently announced his decision to relinquish his title as Duke of York, reportedly following pressure from the King, after stepping back from royal duties in 2019.

Despite personal and family challenges, the 76-year-old monarch’s visit underscores his long-standing commitment to faith dialogue, climate action, and international reconciliation.

Charles last met privately with Pope Francis on April 9, 2024, just days before the pontiff’s passing, during a state visit to Italy.

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