The King has become the first British monarch to pray at a public service with the Pope since the Reformation five centuries ago, marking an extraordinary moment in religious history.
Charles, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, prayed with Pope Leo XIV, head of the Catholic Church, during an ecumenical service in the famous Sistine Chapel on Thursday, in a symbolic moment of unity for Anglicans and Roman Catholics across the globe.
At the end of the short service, Pope Leo said: “Let us pray. God our Father, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to see your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children. Through Christ our Lord.”
Charles and Camilla, making a two-day state visit to the Vatican, sat together a few metres from the Pontiff at the front of the congregation that featured ranks of cardinals, who all stood at the end of the prayer and said: “Amen.”
Immediately afterwards, in another moment of church unity, Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, who was also officiating during the service, said with Pope Leo another prayer. The two senior clerics said: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.” And again the congregation said: “Amen.”
The intervening centuries since Henry VIII broke with Rome to establish the Church of England in the 16th century had been marked by mutual distrust between the English state and the papacy. But the ecumenical movement, a drive towards worldwide Christian unity which began early in the 20th century, has seen Anglicans and Roman Catholics working towards this goal of togetherness.
The Foreign Secretary normally travels with the monarch on state visits, and Yvette Cooper gave a reading from the Letter to the Romans. Like the Queen, Ms Cooper was dressed in black – traditional attire for women when meeting the Pope.
The visit to the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican, is understood to be deeply significant for the King personally and celebrates the Papal Jubilee held every 25 years. It also marks the first time the monarch has met with Pope Leo since he was elected to office in May.
Earlier, the King and Queen’s state limousine swept through St Peter’s Square on Thursday morning, where crowds traditionally gather to see the Pope, and made their way to San Damaso Courtyard, the ceremonial entrance to the Apostolic Palace, the pontiff’s official residence.
Waiting to greet them was Reverend Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, and a guard of honour provided by the Vatican’s famous Swiss Guard. Drawn from Swiss citizens who are Catholic, the guard has been providing protection for the head of the Catholic Church for centuries.
The royal couple stood as the national anthems of Britain and the Vatican City were played. They also met a group of Papal Gentlemen.
After the ceremonial welcome, the King and Queen were led by Monsignor Sapienza into the Apostolic Palace to meet privately with Pope Leo.
When Charles first greeted Leo, he told him: “Your holiness, it’s such a pleasure to meet you, if I may say so,” and after introducing his wife, added: “So kind to see me.”
In the Pope’s library, there was an exchange of gifts, laid out on a table with Charles presenting his host a photograph of himself with his wife and an icon of St Edward the Confessor, while the Pope gave a scale version of the mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, in the Norman Cathedral of Cefalu, in Sicily.
Charles also had solo talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, with the Vatican saying afterwards: “Matters of common interest were discussed, such as environmental protection and the fight against poverty. Particular attention was given to the shared commitment to promoting peace and security in the face of global challenges.
“Finally, recalling the history of the Church in the United Kingdom, there was a shared reflection on the need to continue promoting ecumenical dialogue.”
Later in the day, the King and Queen attended a service at the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls, where a special seat has been created for Charles, which will remain at the place of worship for use by his successors.
Charles was also recognised for the British monarchy’s historic association with the basilica, the seat of a Benedictine Abbey, and was made “Royal Confrater” of the abbey as, in centuries past, monarchs provided for the upkeep of the tomb of St Paul at the basilica.
The state visit will end with the King attending a reception at the Pontifical Beda College, a seminary training priests from across the Commonwealth, and the Queen will meet six Catholic sisters from the International Union of Superiors General.
The King and Queen were due to make the state visit to the Holy See in April, but the health problems of Pope Francis meant the trip was postponed, although the couple did privately meet the pontiff, who died later that month.
The King has also met two of Pope Leo’s predecessors – Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.