King Charles and Pope Leo Make History With First Joint Prayer in 500 Years

In a moment of historic significance, King Charles III met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican and prayed alongside him beneath the awe-inspiring Michelangelo ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The ecumenical service marked the first joint prayer between the heads of the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church in nearly five centuries, symbolizing a renewed spirit of unity and reconciliation.

A prayer five centuries in the making

The joint service, presided over by Pope Leo and attended by the Archbishop of York, focused on faith, creation, and interfaith harmony. The event was described by church officials as a “great step toward unity” between the Anglican and Catholic communities — a scene unimaginable since the Reformation of the 16th century.

A royal chair and a brotherhood of faith

Pope Leo presented King Charles with a handcrafted wooden chair that will remain in the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, reserved exclusively for British monarchs. The chair bears the royal coat of arms and the Latin inscription “Ut unum sint” (“That they may be one”), symbolizing the pursuit of Christian unity.

In return, King Charles conferred upon the Pope the honorary title of “Chaplain Brother of St. George’s Chapel” at Windsor Castle, along with the Knight Grand Cross distinction — one of the highest royal honors.

A powerful symbol of reconciliation

Following the service, King Charles and Pope Leo participated in a sustainability meeting at the Apostolic Palace, emphasizing shared values of stewardship and cooperation. Later in the day, Charles was formally invested as a Royal Confrater of the Abbey of St. Paul’s, a spiritual fellowship recognizing the deepening bond between the Vatican and the British monarchy.

Royal visit amid controversy

The visit came after a turbulent week for the British royal family, following renewed attention on the Prince Andrew scandal. Analysts noted that the solemn pageantry of the Vatican visit helped redirect public focus toward Charles’s global role as a bridge-builder between faiths and nations.