King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV share historic prayer at the Vatican

In a moment of unprecedented unity between two of Christianity’s oldest traditions, King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined Pope Leo XIV in prayer during a historic service at the Vatican — a symbolic step toward strengthening ties between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.

The royal couple, seeking a brief reprieve from mounting domestic tensions linked to Prince Andrew’s misconduct scandal, attended the ecumenical ceremony held inside the Sistine Chapel, beneath Michelangelo’s famed Last Judgment.

Seated on gilded thrones before the altar, Charles — the ceremonial head of the Church of England — and Camilla took part in prayers led jointly by Pope Leo XIV and the Archbishop of York. The gathering marked the first occasion since the 16th-century Reformation that leaders of the two faiths have publicly prayed together.

Music played a central role in the service, blending the traditions of both churches. The Sistine Chapel Choir performed alongside singers from St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace, symbolizing harmony between the two religious communities after centuries of division.