King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to embark on a state visit to the Vatican next week, marking a significant moment in the relationship between the British Crown and the Holy See, rekindling ties not seen since the 16th century.
The royal couple will meet with Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, engaging in discussions as both sovereign leaders and heads of their respective religious institutions.
They will participate in a joint prayer service in the Sistine Chapel with Catholic and Anglican clergy, representing the first such ecumenical gathering in over 500 years. A spokesperson from Buckingham Palace described this event as “historic.”
“It will mark a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England, of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor, recognising the ecumenical work they have undertaken and reflecting the Jubilee year’s theme of walking together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’” the spokesperson noted.
Archbishop Flavio Pace, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity at the Vatican, remarked, “It marks a historic moment in the journey of reconciliation between our Churches. It celebrates how far we’ve come and offers hope for the future.”
Pope Leo XIV will also restore a ceremonial place of honor for the British monarchy within the diocese of Rome, albeit with modifications to acknowledge the monarch’s role as the leader of the Church of England.
Following their engagement at the Sistine Chapel, King Charles will visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of Rome’s major papal basilicas and the burial site of St. Paul, a key figure in the foundation of the Catholic Church alongside St. Peter.
This basilica, which has extraterritorial status, is affiliated with the Holy See but is located beyond the ancient Aurelian Walls of Rome. Traditionally, papal basilicas are linked to royal patrons; for example, King Felipe VI of Spain serves as the protocanon of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
Historically, the Benedictine monastery associated with the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls was supported by the British Crown, dating back to the Saxon kings of the seventh century. However, this relationship was severed during the English Reformation.
King Henry VIII, initially a staunch supporter of the pope, broke away from Rome in 1534 due to the pope’s refusal to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, leading to the nationalization of the church and his self-declaration as the supreme governor of the Church of England.
Since that time, British monarchs have held a largely ceremonial position, with those converting to Catholicism excluded from the line of succession. Although Charles is not a Catholic and thus ineligible for canonization, the Holy See is recognizing the unique relationship between the British Crown and the basilica.
During the visit, the king will be honored by Cardinal James Michael Harvey and Abbot Donato Ogliari, receiving the title of royal confrater of Saint Paul, essentially a royal associate.
A special chair, adorned with Charles’s coat of arms and the Latin phrase Ut unum sint—meaning “that they may be one”—has been commissioned for this occasion. This phrase, derived from the Gospel of John, emphasizes the desire for unity among Christians.
Following the king’s visit, this chair will remain in the basilica’s apse indefinitely for future visits by Charles and his successors. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson highlighted the chair as a “perpetual mark of mutual respect between Pope Leo and His Majesty as Heads of State.”
Archbishop Pace added that the title and chair symbolize “a sign of honor and spiritual communion” with the British monarch.
