Charles and Camilla Make Historic Visit to the Vatican

Rome: British royals Charles and Camilla arrived in Rome on Wednesday evening for a significant visit to the Vatican on Thursday. This marks a historic occasion as Charles is set to become the first British monarch to pray publicly with a pope in 500 years.

According to Ansa News Agency, on their state visit, Charles, head of the Anglican Church, and his wife Camilla were initially scheduled to arrive a day earlier. However, their full itinerary is planned for the 23rd, beginning with Charles’s arrival at 10:45 a.m. in the Courtyard of San Damaso. At 11 a.m., they are expected to have an audience with Pope Leo XIV, followed by a moment of ecumenical prayer in the Sistine Chapel and an event in the Sala Regia focused on the care of creation.

Their visit coincides with the Jubilee Year, echoing Queen Elizabeth’s visit in the Holy Year of 2000. The royal couple’s afternoon agenda includes stops at St. Paul Outside the Walls and Bede College. During the celebration at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, a “chair” will be placed to signify the dialogue between the Catholic and Anglican Churches. This chair will remain in the Roman church after their visit.

Charles will be awarded the title of “royal confrater” during his visit to St. Paul’s Basilica. He may also pass through the Holy Door of the Jubilee, a significant act during the visit. Notably, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, will not be present due to her upcoming appointment in March 2026. Instead, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell will accompany the royal couple.

King Charles III’s public prayer with Pope Leo XIV is a pivotal moment in Catholic and Anglican relations, marking the first such event since the Anglican Reformation 500 years ago. This historic visit is seen as a step towards unity and cooperation among Christian churches. The British media have hailed it as the “historic” highlight of the visit, reminiscent of King Henry VIII’s schism that led to the formation of the Church of England.

The visit is also a continuation of the improved relations over the past decades, marked by Queen Elizabeth II’s state visit to the Vatican in 1961 and Saint John Paul II’s visit to the United Kingdom in 1982. This trip also presents Charles’s first opportunity to meet a pope in his capacity as king, following several visits as the Prince of Wales.

Charles has previously visited the Vatican five times: in 1985, 2005, 2009, 2017, and 2019. His last visit as king occurred last April, shortly before Pope Francis’s death. On three of these occasions, Charles was accompanied by Camilla. This ongoing engagement reflects the progressive normalization of relations between the two churches.