The 76-year-old monarch will take part in an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel with Pope Leo XIV as they mark the Catholic Church’s 2025 ‘Jubilee year’.
Buckingham Palace says is it the first time since Henry VIII’s Reformation of the 1530s that a sovereign – and Head of the Church of England – has taken part in a public act of worship with the leader of the Catholic Church.
And in recognition of his lifetime of campaigning on issues of inter-faith harmony, Pope Leo will make Charles a ‘Royal Confrater’ of the Papal Basilica and Abbey of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls.
The gift of ‘confraternity’ is a recognition of spiritual fellowship – ‘frater’ meaning brother in Latin.
In further celebration of this new bond, a special seat has been created for His Majesty, which will remain in the Basilica as a perpetual mark of mutual respect between Pope Leo and The King as Heads of State.
The special chair is decorated with His Majesty’s Coat of Arms and will be used by the King during the service, after which it will remain in the apse of the Basilica for future use by the monarch and his heirs and successors.
The King’s short visit with Queen Camilla will take place on Wednesday and Thursday but is, nevertheless, loaded with symbolism.
It will be their first meeting with Pope Leo since his election in May. The couple met briefly with the previous incumbent, Pope Francis, when they visited in April but had to cancel several planned engagements due to his ill health.
King Charles and Queen Camilla step off their plane as they arrive at Ciampino Airport ahead of their State visit to the Vatican
The 76-year-old monarch will take part in an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel with Pope Leo XIV as they mark the Catholic Church’s 2025 ‘Jubilee year’
Traditionally marked every 25 years, the Jubilee is a special time for the Catholic Church.
The visit will also mark a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England, of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor.
Buckingham Palace said it would be the first State Visit since the Reformation ‘where the Pope and the Monarch will pray together in an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel,and the first time the Monarch will have attended a service in St Paul’s Outside the Walls, a church with an historic connection to the English Crown’.
The King and Queen will meet Pope Leo in the Apostolic Palace, as well as Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State.
Her Majesty will also view the Pauline Chapel, which houses Michelangelo’s last two frescoes of St Peter and St Paul.
Both the King and Queen will then join the Pope for the special ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel, focused on the theme of ‘Care for Creation’.
This reflects Pope Leo’s and His Majesty’s commitment to the protection of Nature and concern for the environment.
The King’s short visit with Queen Camilla will take place on Wednesday and Thursday but is, nevertheless, loaded with symbolism
Buckingham Palace says is it the first time since Henry VIII’s Reformation of the 1530s that a sovereign – and Head of the Church of England – has taken part in a public act of worship with the leader of the Catholic Church
King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured inside a car as they arrive at Ciampino Airport
The Royal Air Force VIP Voyager carrying the King and Queen arrives at Ciampino Airport
King Charles greets people as he stepped off the plane with Queen Camilla at Ciampino Airport
The Children of the Choir of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal and the Choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, will sing during the service, accompanied by the Sistine Chapel Choir.
The Queen will remain in the Sistine Chapel following the service, to meet the choirs, whilst the King and the Pope will join a meeting on sustainability, before Their Majesties officially depart.
In another significant and historic step, the couple will then visit the Papal Basilica and Abbey of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls.
One of the four major Papal Basilicas, it is the one most closely associated with the Catholic Church’s ecumenical commitment and has historic links with the English Crown.
For centuries, the heraldic shield of the Abbey has been surrounded by the insignia of the Order of the Garter, the UK’s highest order of chivalry.
Before he departs King Charles will attend a reception at The Pontifical Beda College, a seminary which trains priests from across the Commonwealth, meeting students and members of the British and Vatican community.
Meanwhile, Her Majesty will meet six Catholic Sisters from The International Union of Superiors General, who are working around the world at grassroots level to support female empowerment, through girls’ education programmes, improved access to healthcare, climate action, peace building and tackling sexual violence and human trafficking.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: ‘At a time of global instability and conflict, the UK’s relationship with the Holy See is more important than ever – and this historic State Visit will be a key moment to strengthen this relationship.
‘The Holy See has been a key actor on the international stage, promoting peace, effective measures to combat climate change and promote human dignity.
The Catholic Church is the largest denomination of the world’s largest religion; it is the world’s largest non-state education provider, educating 68 million students worldwide, and delivers a quarter of the world’s healthcare.
‘His Majesty’s visit will therefore strengthen the UK’s relationship with this crucial and influential partner, helping to deliver on the Government’s priorities – from promoting peace and security around the world to working with our international partners to tackle climate change.’
The historic visit comes amid heightened interest in Prince Andrew, his living arrangements and his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
It was today revealed the King’s brother will be asked to give evidence about his connection to the late American paedophile financier in front of a US committee which is ‘extremely interested’ in hearing from him.
The historic visit comes amid heightened interest in Prince Andrew, his living arrangements and his links to Jeffrey Epstein
Virginia Giuffre photographed with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in London in 2001
American financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in prison in 2019
Prime Minister Keir Starmer today said he would support an inquiry into how and why the former Duke of York has lived rent-free at Royal Lodge in Windsor Park for over two decades
Stephen Lynch, a senior member of the US House Oversight Committee, revealed he wanted to speak to the King’s brother ‘regarding his involvement in all of this’.
The Democratic congressman added that he was ‘sure’ an invitation would be issued to Andrew about his association with the sex trafficker.
But the 65-year-old royal cannot be subpoenaed to attend a hearing because he is a UK citizen, and it would therefore be his choice whether or not to give evidence.
The Prince’s links to Epstein have dominated headlines for days with fresh focus on his sex accuser Virginia Giuffre’s claims after her posthumous book was published.
It has even stirred up questions about his living arrangements, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer today saying he would support an inquiry into how and why the former Duke of York has lived rent-free at Royal Lodge in Windsor Park for over two decades.
It came after Sir Ed Davey said an inquiry by a select committee should be able to grill witnesses ‘including the current occupant’ – a reference to Prince Andrew.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons today the Liberal Democrat leader said: ‘Given the revelations about Royal Lodge, does the Prime Minister agree that this house needs to properly scrutinise the Crown Estate to ensure taxpayers’ interest are protected?
‘The Chancellor (Rachel Reeves) herself has said the current arrangements are wrong, so will the Prime Minister support a select committee inquiry, so all those involved can be called for evidence, including the current occupant?’
Sir Keir replied: ‘It’s important in relation to all Crown properties that there is proper scrutiny and I would certainly support that.’
