King Charles III on Thursday, October 23rd, became the first head of the Church of England to pray publicly with a pope since the schism with Rome 500 years ago. The historic prayer took place during a service led by Leo XIV.
The 76-year-old monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla, joined the U.S.-born pope in the Sistine Chapel for a 30-minute service mixing Catholic and Anglican traditions.
The highlight of the royals’ state visit to the Holy See, the ceremony under Michelangelo’s spectacular ceiling frescoes marked a significant rapprochement between the two churches.
It was the first time a reigning English or British monarch has prayed publicly with a pope since king Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church in 1534.
Triggered by the then-pope’s refusal to annul Henry’s marriage so he could marry another woman, the schism made the monarch head of the separate Church of England.
