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Britain's King Charles and Pope Leo prayed together in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on Thursday, October 23, marking the first joint worship including an English monarch and a Catholic pontiff since King Henry VIII broke away from Rome in 1534.
Latin chants and English prayers resonated through the chapel, where Pope Leo XIV was elected the first U.S. pope six months ago. Charles, who is the supreme governor of the Church of England, was seated at the pope's left near the altar as Leo and Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell led a service that featured the Sistine Chapel Choir and two royal choirs. Although Charles has met the last three popes and two previous popes visited Britain, their encounters never before included joint prayers.
The King and Queen Camilla are on a state visit to the Vatican to mark the closening ties between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, five centuries after their turbulent separation.
Latin chants and English prayers resonated through the chapel, where Pope Leo XIV was elected the first U.S. pope six months ago. Charles, who is the supreme governor of the Church of England, was seated at the pope's left near the altar as Leo and Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell led a service that featured the Sistine Chapel Choir and two royal choirs. Although Charles has met the last three popes and two previous popes visited Britain, their encounters never before included joint prayers.
The King and Queen Camilla are on a state visit to the Vatican to mark the closening ties between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, five centuries after their turbulent separation.
