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Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III Pray Together in the Sistine Chapel, Marking First Public Prayer in 500 Years

Reciprocal honors with a shared liturgy signaled a step in Catholic–Anglican rapprochement.

Overview

  • The pope and the British monarch prayed publicly in the Sistine Chapel, with a bilingual liturgy led in Latin and English alongside the Archbishop of York.
  • The Vatican and the Crown exchanged confraternity titles, naming Charles III “Royal Confrater” at St. Paul Outside the Walls and the pope “Papal Confrater” of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor.
  • A dedicated walnut-and-maple chair bearing the king’s arms and the motto Ut unum sint will remain at St. Paul’s for future ecumenical services.
  • In talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, both sides discussed environmental stewardship, poverty, and efforts to promote peace and security, reaffirming commitment to ongoing dialogue.
  • Coverage spotlighted a 1530 parchment in the Vatican Apostolic Archive tied to Henry VIII’s annulment bid, preserved with eighty-five wax seals as a tangible link to the origins of the Anglican schism.