Next week, a moment five centuries in the making will unfold in Vatican City: King Charles III, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and Queen Camilla will travel to Rome for a state visit that promises to reshape the landscape of Christian relations. On Thursday, October 23, 2025, King Charles will become the first British monarch since the Reformation to pray publicly with the Pope—now Leo XIV—during an ecumenical service in the storied Sistine Chapel. The event, steeped in symbolism and history, marks a milestone in the ongoing quest for unity between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.
The significance of this visit is hard to overstate. According to Sky News, the King and Queen’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace will be the centerpiece of a two-day trip that was originally set for April but postponed following the illness and subsequent passing of Pope Francis. The Vatican and Buckingham Palace jointly announced the rescheduled visit, which now coincides with the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee year—a tradition held every quarter-century, this time themed “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The upcoming service in the Sistine Chapel is not just ceremonial. As reported by South China Morning Post, it will see the King and Pope join in prayer—a gesture not witnessed since King Henry VIII’s dramatic break from Rome in 1534, when he declared himself head of the Church of England and severed ties with papal authority. The two churches have been divided ever since, with disputes ranging from theological differences to the ordination of female priests. Yet, this October, their leaders will stand shoulder to shoulder, praying for unity and the safeguarding of creation.
“It marks a historic moment in the journey of reconciliation between our Churches,” Archbishop Flavio Pace, secretary of the Vatican’s office for promoting Christian unity, told UPI at a Vatican press briefing. “It celebrates how far we’ve come—and offers hope for the future.” The service, which will be attended by dignitaries from both churches, will focus on the shared commitment to care for the planet, echoing the Jubilee’s theme and reflecting both leaders’ environmental advocacy.
The Sistine Chapel, dedicated in 1483 and world-renowned for Michelangelo’s ceiling, will provide a fitting backdrop for this historic occasion. A special seat, adorned with King Charles’s coat of arms, has been crafted for the monarch to use during the service. According to UPI, this chair will remain in the chapel, reserved for Charles and his heirs—a lasting symbol of renewed ties.
Music will fill the chapel as the Sistine Chapel Choir is joined by choristers from the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace and the Choir of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. During the service, a hymn by Saint Ambrose of Milan will be sung in an English translation by Saint John Henry Newman, canonized in 2019—a nod to the shared spiritual heritage of both traditions.
But the visit is not confined to the Sistine Chapel. In another gesture laden with meaning, King Charles will be formally bestowed the title “Royal Confrater” at the Papal Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls, a church with deep historical ties to the English crown. As Sky News details, the abbot and archpriest of the basilica sought and received the Pope’s approval for this honor. The title, while conferring no formal duties or obligations, acknowledges the King’s decades-long efforts to bridge faiths and foster dialogue. A special chair, again bearing the King’s coat of arms, will remain in the basilica for future use by Charles and his successors.
St Paul’s Outside the Walls is more than just a venue; it’s a symbol of reconciliation and ecumenism. English monarchs maintained strong connections with the basilica until the Reformation, and the church is renowned for celebrating unity across Christian denominations. The King’s new title is, as a Church of England spokesperson told Sky News, “a tribute to his majesty and his own work over many decades to find common ground between faiths and to bring people together.”
The visit comes at a time when the world is grappling with instability, conflict, and environmental crises. A spokesperson from the UK Foreign Office emphasized to Sky News, “At a time of growing instability and conflict, the UK’s relationship with the Holy See is more important than ever. The Holy See is a key international actor. We work with the Holy See to promote human dignity, to promote peace and combat climate change… so His Majesty’s visit will strengthen the UK’s relationship with this crucial and influential global partner.”
This is not the first time a reigning British monarch has visited the Vatican since the Reformation. In 1961, Queen Elizabeth II made an official visit, and she returned during the 2000 Jubilee. King Charles, following in her footsteps, now takes the next step—praying alongside a pope in a public service and receiving honors at a basilica intertwined with British history.
The road to this moment has not been straightforward. Earlier this year, King Charles and Queen Camilla met privately with Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta hospital in Rome, just days before the pope’s death. That meeting, marking the royal couple’s 20th wedding anniversary, was a personal gesture; this week’s visit, by contrast, is a public affirmation of reconciliation and shared purpose.
The ecumenical service will also highlight the global reach of both churches. The Roman Catholic Church counts approximately 1.4 billion members worldwide, including over 6 million in England and Wales and nearly 700,000 in Scotland, according to UPI. The Church of England, meanwhile, remains the largest Christian denomination in Britain, with 13.3 million followers. As the world watches, the leaders of these two vast communities will pray together, sending a powerful message of hope and unity.
Of course, not all divisions are resolved overnight. The Catholic Church and Church of England continue to differ on issues such as the ordination of female priests, and both face internal and external challenges. Yet, the symbolism of this visit—prayer, recognition, and shared commitment to the planet—may help lay the groundwork for deeper cooperation in the years ahead.
As the bells of St Paul’s and the Sistine Chapel sound next Thursday, a new chapter in the story of Christian unity will begin—one that honors the past, acknowledges the present, and looks with hope to the future.