Vatican City: In a historic and ecumenical ceremony at the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, King Charles III of England was conferred the honorary title of “Royal Confrater,” a symbol of unity and hope for the future within the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church. The state visit, undertaken alongside Queen Camilla, highlighted centuries of dialogue between the two Christian traditions and reinforced bonds of spiritual fraternity.
The ceremony, presided over by Abbot Donato Ogliari, was attended by Cardinal James Michael Harvey, Archbishop of York and Primate of England Stephen Cottrell, and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Rosie Frew. The Royals entered the basilica through the Holy Door, accompanied by the church leaders, as the congregation’s voices resounded with the historic hymn Hosanna to the Son of David composed by Orlando Gibbons, Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in the early 17th century. The music was performed by the Schola of the Abbey, the lay clerks of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, and children of St. James’s Royal Chapel in London, with Christian Almada at the organ.
After a solemn prayer at the tomb of Apostle Paul, led by Cardinal Harvey and Abbot Ogliari, Archbishop Cottrell implored the congregation to bear witness to the Gospel “in the darkness of our time.” King Charles and Queen Camilla then took their seats on specially prepared thrones bearing the royal coat of arms and the Gospel inscription, Ut unum sint “That they may be one” which will remain in the basilica for use by future English monarchs.
Cardinal Harvey emphasized the historical ties uniting England and the Papal Basilica, recalling the landmark 1966 meeting between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey, which initiated official dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion for the first time since the Reformation. The honorary title, offered with the approval of Pope Leo XIV, was described as a gesture of welcome to the sovereign not merely as a monarch, but as a “brother” in faith.
The service included a series of prayers and musical tributes underscoring unity, faith, and stewardship of Creation. Readings from the Letter to the Ephesians and the Gospel of John echoed the theme of reconciliation and fellowship, while compositions by Henry Purcell, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and Edward Elgar enriched the liturgy with historical resonance. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, led the Prayer of the Faithful, invoking blessings for world leaders, including King Charles, the pastors of the Church, and for the protection of Creation for future generations.
The ceremony concluded with a private visit by the Royals to the abbey’s monumental library, highlighting the enduring cultural and spiritual linkages between England and the Vatican. The conferral of the Royal Confrater title stands as a sign of hope, dialogue, and the ongoing ecumenical journey, marking a moment of historical significance in relations between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.