Vatican City: In a moment of profound historical and spiritual significance, King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined Pope Leo XIV on Thursday for a day marked by prayer, dialogue, and unity symbolizing a deep renewal of ties between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. The series of events, which included a private audience at the Apostolic Palace and an ecumenical service at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, reaffirmed the shared Christian heritage and growing friendship between the two Churches.
The day began with an ecumenical prayer in the Sistine Chapel, followed by private talks between Pope Leo XIV and King Charles, culminating in a solemn service at St. Paul’s Basilica, where the monarch was formally conferred the title of Royal Confrater of Saint Paul a gesture rich in historical symbolism and spiritual meaning.
Father Martin Browne, an Irish Benedictine monk and official of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, described the event as “one of the most significant moments in Anglican Catholic relations in modern history.” Speaking to Vatican News, he noted, “An English King has not prayed in the same place as a Pope since before the Reformation over 500 years ago. This act of prayer together marks a further deepening in the warmth of our relationship.”
For centuries, English monarchs have visited the Vatican, but none had joined a Pope in public prayer since the 16th century split between Rome and England. Thursday’s ceremony thus stood as a symbolic bridge between two traditions long divided by doctrine, yet bound by shared faith.
The highlight of the afternoon was the service at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where King Charles was received with ancient honours. Seated in a specially crafted chair adorned with his royal coat of arms and the Latin verse Ut unum sint (“That they may be one”), the King was welcomed as Royal Confrater, renewing a historic connection between the English crown and the Basilica’s Benedictine community.
Before the Reformation, English monarchs were known as protectors of St. Paul’s. “The Abbey still bears the symbol of the British Order of the Garter the highest order in the United Kingdom within its coat of arms,” Father Browne explained, noting that the moment symbolized a “reclaiming of shared spiritual heritage.”
As the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, King Charles has consistently shown a personal commitment to faith and interreligious harmony. His Vatican visit, though part of an official state engagement, carried strong spiritual undertones. “The King wanted this journey to have a spiritual dimension,” said Father Browne. “He wished to express the closeness that already exists between our Churches to make it visible and concrete.”
Both Pope Francis, who originally planned to hold the prayer service earlier this year but postponed due to health reasons, and Pope Leo XIV, who succeeded him, gave full support to the initiative. “Despite remaining theological differences, there is a vast amount of common ground,” Father Browne affirmed. “Our shared faith, our shared traditions, and our joint commitment to peace and creation are stronger than what divides us.”
The figure of St. John Henry Newman an English theologian who lived and ministered within both Churches featured prominently throughout the day’s liturgies. Hymns based on Newman’s writings, including “Praise to the Holiest in the Height,” were sung during the services.
“Newman is a figure of unity and dialogue,” Father Browne said. “He embodies the shared witness of faith that both the Anglican and Catholic traditions treasure.” The Church of England, he noted, had warmly welcomed Newman’s canonization and later declaration as a Doctor of the Church. King Charles, who attended his canonization in 2019, also paid homage to Newman’s spiritual legacy during his visit.
Another unifying theme of the day was the care for creation, a cause close to both King Charles and the late Pope Francis. The event coincided with the tenth anniversary of Laudato si’, the landmark papal encyclical on environmental stewardship.
“This visit was arranged originally to honour the shared ecological vision of Pope Francis and King Charles,” Father Browne explained. “Pope Leo XIV has wholeheartedly embraced the same spirit of commitment to our common home.”
Father Browne described this collaboration as an “ecumenism of our common home.” He reflected that Christians across traditions now recognize environmental care as a moral and spiritual calling that must unite rather than divide. “The care for creation has become a witness we share at this time a tangible expression of faith in action,” he said.
The meetings and prayers of the day were meticulously coordinated between the Vatican and the Royal Household, underscoring the seriousness of the occasion. Every gesture from the hymns to the seating arrangement carried layers of theological and historical meaning.
For the Catholic and Anglican Churches alike, the visit was more than diplomatic courtesy; it was an affirmation that faith can heal old wounds. “Even after centuries of separation,” Father Browne reflected, “we see that the Spirit continues to work in both our communities. This meeting is not about erasing the past but about building the future together, in faith, friendship, and hope.”
As evening fell over Rome, the image of King Charles III praying beside Pope Leo XIV in the heart of the Vatican stood as a living testament to Christian reconciliation a gentle but powerful reminder that unity begins not in doctrine, but in shared prayer and purpose.