The two prayed in the Sistine Chapel, marking a milestone in relations between the Church of England and the Vatican.
He King Charles III of England and the Pope Leo XIV prayed together in a religious service in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican. He historical event This Thursday became the first time that these two figures prayed together since the Reformation of the 16th century.
A few minutes before the ceremony, the Pope received the 76-year-old monarch with Queen Camilla in a private audience. Both presided over the celebration under the famous Michelangelo’s frescoesin the presence of Catholic and Anglican prelates; and political and diplomatic leaders.
The choir of the Sistine Chapel accompanied that of St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, and the central theme of the prayer was nature protectionaccompaniment between both Churches on environmental issues. The British monarch was named “royal confraternity” of the Catholic Church and granted the Pope the title of “papal confrater” of Windsor. The pontiff was appointed head of the Catholic Church in May after the death of his predecessor, Francis.
Pope Leo and King Charles
What the Anglican religion is about
The Anglican religion was born in 1534in a split caused by the king henry viii of England, for the Pope’s refusal to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church ordains women and allows priests to marry.
It should be noted that in 1961, the Queen Elizabeth II of England, became the first British monarch to visit the Vatican since the schism of 1534, and her desire to improve relations led her to return five more times to visit the reigning Popes.
Charles III and his wife made a private visit to the former Pope Francis, who was planning a trip to England, a few days before his death. On the other hand, they will also attend another ecumenical religious service on Thursday at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.
Source: Ambito
