King Charles to become first British monarch in over 500 years to pray with pope in historic Vatican visit

Britain’s King Charles III is poised to make history as the first British monarch to publicly pray alongside a pope since the 16th-century Reformation, during a landmark state visit to Vatican City on October 22-23, 2025.

The ecumenical prayer service with Pope Leo XIV will take place in the iconic Sistine Chapel, marking a profound moment towards reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, which King Charles leads as Supreme Governor.

The visit, initially scheduled for April but postponed due to Pope Francis’ final illness, is timed to coincide with the Catholic Church’s Holy Year, a sacred event held once every 25 years. It will unite clergy and choirs representing both churches, reflecting shared concerns such as the care of God’s creation.


Buckingham Palace and Vatican officials revealed that King Charles will also receive the titular honor of 'Royal Confrater' at the historic pontifical basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls — a site with deep traditional ties to the English crown dating back centuries.

This title symbolizes spiritual fellowship between the two churches and includes a specially crafted chair adorned with the King’s coat of arms that will remain in the basilica for him and his successors.

Monsignor Flavio Pace, secretary of the Vatican office for Christian unity, described the event as a historic step in healing centuries-old divisions, dating back to King Henry VIII’s break from papal authority in 1534. The joint prayers by two heads of Christian churches have been unprecedented since then.

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s two-day pilgrimage will include meetings with the new Pope Leo XIV—a US-born pontiff recently elected in 2025—and senior Vatican figures, highlighting an era of hopeful inter-church dialogue and enhanced spiritual partnership.

Following in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the Vatican during the 2000 Jubilee, King Charles’ visit underscores his personal commitment to Christian unity and global faith leadership.

This historic pilgrimage not only celebrates shared faith but also acts as a powerful symbol of growing ecumenical cooperation in a world facing critical social and ecological challenges.