The King and Pope praying together is an historic moment for the Church
By 
Catherine Pepinster2025-10-23T13:34:00
King Charles’ visit to the Vatican could be a turning point in the relationship between the Catholic and Protestant faiths, says Catherine Pepinster. As the first British monarch to pray with the Pope, he is leading the way in healing a centuries-old rift
King Charles’ visit to meet Pope Leo XIV will probably come as a welcome relief from headlines about the future of his brother, Prince Andrew. But there is much more to this visit to the Vatican than providing a distraction from cares at home. This is an historic moment.
The King, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and the Pope, leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics, have publicly prayed together at a special ecumenical service, held in the Sistine Chapel. This is the beating heart of Catholicism, the place where cardinals gathered in May to elect Robert Prevost to succeed Pope Francis as head of the Church.
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