King Charles III and Queen Camilla Make Historic Vatican Visit, Pray with Pope Leo XIV

Historic Royal Visit to the Vatican

King Charles III and Queen Camilla embarked on a landmark state visit to the Vatican on October 23, 2025, marking a significant moment in relations between the Church of England and the Catholic Church. The royal couple's itinerary included a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, followed by a historic ecumenical prayer service in the revered Sistine Chapel.

The visit, originally scheduled for earlier in the year but postponed due to the illness and subsequent death of Pope Francis, saw King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 78, arrive at the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. They were greeted with ceremonial honors, including a guard by the Swiss Guard and music from the Vatican police band.

A Pope of Firsts and Ecumenical Milestones

The meeting was King Charles's first with Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on May 8, 2025, becoming the first American-born pontiff. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV, 70, succeeded Pope Francis and has been noted for his moderate stance and commitment to dialogue.

A pivotal moment of the visit was the ecumenical prayer service held in the Sistine Chapel. This event was particularly historic as it marked the first time a reigning British monarch has publicly prayed with a Pope since the Reformation in the 16th century, a period that saw King Henry VIII's split from Rome.

The service, held beneath Michelangelo's 'Last Judgment' fresco, featured a blend of Catholic and Anglican traditions. Choirs from the Sistine Chapel, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, and the Children of His Majesty's Chapel Royal performed together, symbolizing unity. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, also participated in the service alongside Pope Leo XIV.

Discussions, Gifts, and Future Relations

Beyond the spiritual engagements, the visit also focused on contemporary global issues. King Charles and Pope Leo XIV held discussions on environmental sustainability and the care for creation in the Sala Regia of the Apostolic Palace.

The exchange of gifts underscored the deepening ties:

• King Charles presented Pope Leo XIV with a silver photograph and an icon of St. Edward the Confessor.
• Pope Leo XIV gifted the King a mosaic of Christ.
• The King conferred upon the Pope the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.
• The Pope bestowed upon the King the Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Vatican Order of Pope Pius IX, and Queen Camilla was made a Dame of the same order.

Following their engagements at the Vatican, the royal couple visited the Papal Basilica and Abbey of St. Paul's Outside the Walls, where King Charles was made 'Royal Confrater' of the Abbey, an unprecedented recognition for a British monarch since the Reformation. He was also presented with a special chair for future use by him and his heirs.