King Charles and Pope Leo XIV will be the first British monarch and pontiff to worship together at a service since the Reformation in the 16th century.
The service will bring together clergy and choirs from both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England.
The king, as the supreme governor of the Church of England, will make history when he prays with the Pope under the Sistine Chapel’s famous Michelangelo painted ceiling.
Charles’ visit will be seen as a symbol of reconciliation between the churches. It will also be the first time King Charles meets Pope Leo.
This state visit to the Vatican has been in the pipeline for some time. It was postponed due to the ill health of Pope Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis.
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to Italy in April
Charles and Camilla last visited Italy in April. There, they met with Pope Francis on their 20th wedding anniversary (April 9).
The meeting was one of Pope Francis’ last high-profile meetings before his death on April 21.
This new state visit will take place on October 22 and 23. It will consist of a series of meetings and services. The intentions of the meetings and services is to emphasise the close relationship between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.
Charles and Camilla will meet with the Pope and senior Vatican officials during their visit. A special ecumenical service will also take place, to bring together both Catholic and Anglican traditions.
Of course, British monarchs and pontiffs have shared meetings before.
King Charles’ very special occasion at the Vatican
But, according to Buckingham Palace and the Church of England, this occasion is very special and historic.
There has been no similar moment, where a British monarch has prayed alongside a Pope, since Henry VIII’s split from Rome in the 16th Century.
According to reports, this historic moment symbolises King Charles’ commitment to strengthening bonds between faiths.
As per BBC, there will also be another link to the pre-Reformation era. The king is set to attend a service at the church of St Paul’s Outside the Walls.
This church and abbey contains the tomb of St Paul. It is traditionally associated with the English monarchy’s medieval and Anglo-Saxon rulers, who once helped support the upkeep of this Roman building.
The insignia of the Order of the Garter has been on display there for centuries, demonstrating the link to the English monarchy.
King Charles to be honoured with new title
King Charles will be given an honorary, spiritual title associated with the abbey.
He will become what’s called a “royal confrater”, as part of the abbey’s confraternity.
A Church of England spokesman said the title paid tribute to the king’s “own work over many decades to find common ground between faiths and to bring people together”.
He is expected to sit in a purpose-made seat, decorated with the king’s coat of arms. This seat will stay in place for the monarch’s future use and his successors.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said of the state visit: “The Catholic Church is the largest denomination of the world’s largest religion.”
The king and queen’s upcoming trip is expected to “strengthen the UK’s relationship with this crucial and influential partner,” she explained.
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