Vatican City: The historic visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the Vatican has provided a renewed vision of hope and fraternity between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, say Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, and Bishop Anthony Ball, Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome. The warm welcome extended to the British Royals, coupled with symbolic gestures of ecumenical fellowship, reflects the ongoing commitment of both communions to dialogue, understanding, and the ultimate goal of visible unity.
The journey toward reconciliation between Catholics and Anglicans has deep historical roots marked by periods of division and conflict. Four centuries ago, Queen Elizabeth I and her half-sister Queen Mary I of England, though united by blood, were divided by faith. The Reformation, enacted through a series of parliamentary acts beginning in 1529, transferred spiritual authority from the papacy to the English crown, culminating in the 1534 Act of Supremacy. The short reign of Catholic Queen Mary I and the long Protestant rule of Elizabeth I created enduring religious tensions. Yet, their joint tomb in Westminster Abbey, inscribed with “Consorts in realm and tomb, here we sleep, Elizabeth and Mary, sisters in hope of resurrection”, now stands as a powerful emblem of reconciliation and hope.
Centuries of discord followed, characterized by persecution and martyrdom on both sides. Efforts toward dialogue began tentatively in the 20th century, notably with the Malines Conversations in 1921. Full engagement between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion accelerated following the Second Vatican Council, with the historic meeting between Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI in 1966 marking a pivotal moment. Their common declaration laid the foundation for fraternal dialogue and the establishment of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), which has produced fourteen documents over the past fifty years, furthering theological understanding and collaboration.
Royal visits to the Holy See have historically been rare and cautious. King Edward VII’s private visit in 1903 and Queen Elizabeth II’s landmark 1961 visit to Pope John XXIII paved the way for modern rapprochement. The visit of King Charles III today, however, is uniquely significant, including participation in prayer services at the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls and the Sistine Chapel alongside Pope Leo XIV. The conferral of the honorary title of Royal Confrater upon the King symbolizes a meaningful restoration of ties between the English Crown and the Basilica, while respecting the theological and ceremonial dimensions of both traditions.
Archbishop Pace and Bishop Ball emphasize that while theological differences remain, the gestures of warmth and fraternity accompanying the Royal visit foster trust, nurture dialogue, and strengthen the shared commitment to Christian unity. As Pope Leo XIV has expressed, the hope persists for “the re-establishment of full and visible communion,” a vision renewed today through acts of reconciliation, prayer, and shared witness.
The symbolic installation of King Charles on a newly created throne within the Basilica will serve as a lasting reminder of this historic ecumenical encounter a testament to the enduring path of dialogue, mutual respect, and hope for unity between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.