Ecumenical Prayer Service in the Sistine Chapel with Pope and British Royalty

On the morning of 23 October 2025, Pope Leo XIV welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla of England into the historic setting of the Sistine Chapel for an ecumenical midday prayer service.

Joined by Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York and Primate of England, the gathering underscored a renewed spirit of Anglican-Catholic cooperation.

A Momentous Encounter

Inside the fresco-filled chapel, the Pope and the King-Queen couple took part in traditional midday prayers, which included psalms and a Gospel reading.
Vatican News
The service was delivered in Latin and English, reflecting the unity and mutual respect between traditions.

This gathering marked a significant milestone — the first such encounter of this nature in around five hundred years between the Vatican and the British Crown.

Themes: Unity and Creation Care

Two key themes steered the event: Christian unity and care for creation. King Charles and the Pope share a concern for environmental stewardship, harking back to the Pope’s encyclical Laudato sì issued ten years ago.

From the hymn opening — originally penned by St. Ambrose of Milan and translated by St. John Henry Newman — the service wove together elements familiar to both Anglican and Catholic liturgies.

Musical and Symbolic Highlights

The liturgy included voices from the Lay Clerks of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, the Children of the Chapel Royal of St James’ Palace, and the Sistine Chapel Choir — symbolising the convergence of traditions.

As the organ signalled the conclusion, Pope Leo XIV walked out alongside King Charles III, representing a gesture of shared faith and mutual respect.