Divine Union

KING CHARLES AND POPE LEO PRAY TOGETHER FOR CREATION

Today, 23rd October 2025, King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined Pope Leo XIV in the Sistine Chapel for Midday Prayer marking a historic moment in Anglican-Catholic relations - and the emphasis focused on the themes of Christian Unity and Care for the Environment.

Becoming the first British monarch to pray publicly with a pope in 500 years (since the Reformation) this visit was originally scheduled for April but had to cancelled due to Pope Francis' ill health. However, the service today continued to highlight the shared commitment of both King Charles and the late Pope Francis, to the care of Creation, ten years after the publication of his encyclical Laudato si'.

The current Pope Leo XIV also recently shared the same intent as he said in his homily at the inauguration of Borgo Laudato Si in September that every creature has an important and specific role in God's plan, and each is good. And he went on to say "Care for creation is truly a vocation for every human being. We are creatures among creatures, entrusted with the responsibility to care for all that the Creator has made."

Today's ecumenical prayer service, held in Latin and English, was filled with the voices of the Lay Clerks of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and the Children of the Chapel Royal of St. James' Palace together with the Sistine Chapel choir and fulfilled a wish of King Charles, who has been committed to interfaith engagement for a long time before taking up his role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

King Charles has honoured Pope Leo by making him a 'Papal Confrater of St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle' and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath whilst the Pope is making the King and Queen a knight and dame of the order of Pius IX and King Charles a 'Royal Confrater' of the Basilica of St. Paul's, Outside the Walls, as a "gesture of hospitality and spiritual fellowship."

After the service, the Pope and King attended a private meeting in the Sala Regia, the state hall of the Pope's residence and joined church leaders and advocates for environmental protection.

Later today the couple are due to attend an ecumenical service at the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Walls, which has historic ties to the English Crown and is home to the tomb of the apostle St. Paul. A special throne-like chair has also been commissioned there featuring the King's coat of arms and the Latin motto "Ut unum sint" ("That they may be one") which will remain permanently in the Basilica for use by his successors.

Pic @VaticanMedia