VATICAN CITY: In a historic milestone, King Charles III has become the first British monarch in five centuries to take part in a public prayer with a Pope.
During the second day of his official two-day visit to Vatican City, King Charles and Queen Camilla joined Pope Leo XIV in an interfaith prayer ceremony at the Sistine Chapel.
A special golden throne was arranged for the King at the Abbey of St. Paul, where elements from both Catholic and Anglican traditions were harmoniously blended, a gesture widely viewed as a symbol of growing religious unity.
The royal couple entered the Basilica through a sacred door that traditionally opens to the public only once every 25 years, adding a deeper spiritual resonance to the occasion. Queen Camilla also met Catholic sisters and praised their work in empowering women.
Why After 500 Years
The event carried deep historical significance. In 1534, King Henry VIII broke away from papal authority after being denied permission to annul his marriage, establishing the Church of England with himself as its head. The split led to the dissolution of monasteries, the burning of religious texts, and the execution of many clergy and monks.
Following the schism, Catholics in England and Scotland faced centuries of restrictions on worship and marriage with Anglicans, a divide that only began to soften by the mid-20th century.
Dr. Jamie Hawkey, theologian at Westminster Abbey, noted that “the era of mutual mistrust has now ended.” He added that seventy years ago, it was still controversial for Catholics and Anglicans even to enter each other’s churches — but today, “history appears to be healing itself.”
What Experts Say
Experts highlight that in recent decades, relations between the British monarchy and the Vatican have significantly improved. The 2013 Succession to the Crown Act allowed royal heirs to marry Catholics, though the monarch must still remain head of the Anglican Church.
Earlier this year, King Charles and Queen Camilla had a private audience with Pope Francis, and in September, the King attended a Catholic Mass — the first such act by a British monarch in 500 years.
Religious affairs analyst Catherine Pepinster described the moment as “a remarkable chapter in history,” saying: “For centuries, this kingdom stood in conflict with Rome. Today, the head of the Church of England knelt in prayer alongside the leader of 1.3 billion Catholics, a gesture of reconciliation and unity.”
Analysts regard the event as not only a renewal of ties between Britain and the Vatican but also the dawn of a new era of religious tolerance and mutual respect.
