English king, pope plan joint prayer, first since Reformation

Pope Leo XIV will receive King Charles III and Queen Camila at the Vatican next week in what’s planned to be a key moment for the historically rocky Anglican-Catholic relations. The royal couple will visit next Thursday in honor of the Catholic church’s Jubilee year, according to a Friday statement from the palace. The trio will attend a service at the Sistine Chapel, marking the first time since the 16th-century protestant Reformation that a reigning British monarch will pray with the pope publicly.

Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, made history in 1961 as the first reigning British monarch to formally visit the Vatican since the Reformation. Britain formally split from the Catholic Church when King Henry VIII formed the Church of England in 1534, declaring himself the supreme head of the church. As king, Charles holds the same title today, making his upcoming visit one of both church and state.

What else is planned for the visit? Charles and Camilla will meet the American-born pope for the first time at the pope’s official residence in the historic Apostolic Palace, according to the palace. The preceding ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel will center on caring for creation and reflect on Charles and Leo’s shared commitment to natural preservation. 

Charles and Camillawill also visit the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where the king will receive the title of Royal Confrater of Saint Paul, a symbol of spiritual fellowship. Charles will attend a reception at the Pontifical Beda College seminary for priests, and Camilla will meet with Catholic sisters who work at a global, grassroots level to combat violence against girls and women.