The British monarch and the Pope share a moment of unity inside the
Sistine Chapel
King Charles III has made royal history by becoming the first British monarch
in five centuries to join a Catholic Pope in prayer, symbolising a powerful
moment of reconciliation between two churches divided since the Reformation.
On Thursday, October 23, His Majesty stood alongside Pope Leo XIV inside the
Sistine Chapel for a joint prayer described by Vatican officials as “the
joining of hands.” The ceremony marked a turning point in relations between
the Catholic Church and the Church of England, of which the King serves as
Supreme Governor.
“Let us pray,” Pope Leo began, his words echoing through the centuries-old
chapel as the two leaders bowed their heads — a gesture seen by many as a sign
of hope and unity after centuries of separation.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The King and Queen, accompanied by
Pope Leo, attended a special service in the Sistine Chapel, marking the
joining of hands between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, in a
celebration of ecumenism.”
Before the ceremony, King Charles and Queen Camilla held a private audience
with the Pope — their first meeting since his election in May following the
death of Pope Francis in April. The royal couple’s two-day state visit to the
Holy See coincides with the Papal Jubilee, a momentous event held every 25
years in the Catholic tradition.
The service featured performances by the Children of the Choir of His
Majesty’s Chapel Royal and the Choir of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, who
joined the renowned Sistine Chapel Choir in song — a musical reflection of the
unity the occasion represented.
The Pope concluded the ceremony with a prayer that celebrated creation and
peace: “God our Father, you have created the heavens and the Earth. You made
us in your own image…”
Later in the day, King Charles is expected to be honoured with the title of
Royal Confrater of Saint Paul at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
— a further recognition of this historic moment of faith and reconciliation.
