Pope Leo XIV Welcomes King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the Vatican

King Charles III and Queen Camilla Visit the Vatican

On Thursday, October 23rd, King Charles III along with Queen Camilla will be making an official State visit to the Vatican. During this visit, they will be received by Pope Leo XIV. This has been confirmed by Buckingham Palace as well as the Holy See. This historic visit symbolizes an important milestone in the relationship between the Anglican Church and the Catholic Church and focuses on two major themes; the unification of Christians and the stewardship of the environment.

King Charles is going to be given the title Royal Confrater of Saint Paul during the ceremony at Basilica di San Paolo Fuori dalle Mura (St. Paul Outside the Walls) that day and show the continuing bond between the British Royal Family and the Benedictine Abbey attached to the Basilica of San Paolo.

At 12:00 PM noon (local time) on Sunday, July 23rd, the Ecumenical Prayer Service for the Care of Creation will take place at the Sistine Chapel, conducted by Pope Leo XIV followed by a meeting with representatives of different groups and individuals committed to protecting the environment who are attending the Ecumenical Prayer Service in the Sala Regia. At 2:45 PM the King and Queen will arrive at St. Paul Outside the Walls where King Charles will be officially given the title "Royal Confrater of Saint Paul".

The Palace of Buckingham has described the visit as "historic" according to Jubilee Year Pilgrims of Hope and recognizing the ecumenical efforts of the Catholic Church and Anglican Communion.

An Engagement Centered on Cohesion and Environmental Stewardship

The Royal Engagement's focus will be on the advancement of two main issues, namely the Christian Unity and Protection of the Environment. During the press conference held in the Vatican City on October 17th, Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, gave an overview of Christian Unity; Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development spoke about the Protection of the Environment.

King Charles is asking to take part in a liturgy that is about caring for the earth during his visit to Rome, Italy for the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s encyclical called Laudato Si' (On Care for our Common Home) in April. As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, King Charles has been an advocate for interfaith dialogue and cooperation. Therefore, he has made such a request because of this commitment to promoting good relations among different faiths and religions. The liturgy will be led together by the Pope and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican in Rome.

A Hymn Connecting Traditions

The ecumenical character of the visit will be evident in the liturgy, where there will be a hymn of Saint Ambrose of Milan sung in the English translation of Saint John Henry Newman. Newman was a central figure in the relationship between the Anglican and Catholic Churches and spent a large part of his life as an Anglican before converting to Catholicism. He was canonized in 2019, at a ceremony that King Charles attended. On November 1st, Pope Leo will declare Newman a Doctor of the Church at a major ceremony in which an Anglican delegation will participate.

The Sistine Chapel Choir and the coed choristers from the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace and St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle will provide the musical score to this performance.

A Distinctive Honor for His Majesty the King

In the afternoon, the Royals are going to be travelling to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, which has historical associations with the British Crown and the adjacent Benedictine Abbey. Importantly, the Abbey’s Coat of Arms displays the emblem of the Order of Garter - one of Britain’s greatest honours.

In tribute to the significant event, King Charles will be conferred by Cardinal James Michael Harvey and Abbot Donato Ogliari as the Royal Confrater of Saint Paul, authorized by Pope Leo XIV. Additionally, Archbishop Pace stated, “It is a symbol of honor and fellowship in spirituality.”

The chair crafted for the event features the coat of arms of King Charles and the words "Ut unum sint," which mirror (John 17:21; "That they may be one") in Latin. It is designed to stay in the apse of the Basilica for usage by the King and anyone succeeding him when they visit again.

Collective Responsibility for the Earth

A private gathering will occur immediately following the ecumenical prayer service in the Sala Regia, in which Pope Leo II; Charles King of England; those in ecclesiastical leadership; business leaders; environmental advocates; and UN experts will be present. The Laudato Si’ Movement will send representatives to this meeting as well.

According to Sister Smerilli: "This event illustrates the strong working relationship that exists within the two churches regarding ecology. Pope Francis has long been stressing the need to focus on both environmental issues and social issues together because one cannot separate the two. Pope Leo has contributed to this effort by implementing more measures to that effect."

She pointed out some current events: The founding of the Missa pro custodia creationis (Mass for the Protection of Creation) was celebrated on July 9, 2020; the inauguration of the new Borgo Laudato Si’, will take place on September 5, 2025. Sister Smerilli further expressed appreciation for the King's efforts to include the private sector in efforts to address climate change and the loss of biodiversity.

Anticipating the Future

Sister Smerilli along with Archbishop Pace emphasised that the significance of this occasion is still relevant today. Archbishop Pace stated, "This visit marks an important chapter in the reconciliation between our Churches. It recognises how far we have come together—and gives us hope for what lies ahead".

Sister Smerilli concurred, describing it as a significant emblem of collective unity and environmental stewardship: “These are issues that hold greater importance than ever for future generations.”