King Charles and Pope Leo: A Historic Prayer Session

King Charles has done something no British king has done in a very long time. He prayed with a pope in public. This event is seen as a big deal because it shows that the Catholic and Anglican churches are trying to get along better. The king and Queen Camilla went to the Vatican. They met Pope Leo in the Sistine Chapel. This is the same place where famous artist Michelangelo painted the ceiling. Pope Leo became the first US pope in May. He leads over 1. 4 billion Catholics around the world. This visit happened at a tough time for King Charles. His brother, Prince Andrew, had just given up his title because of his ties to a convicted criminal. But King Charles seemed happy. He joked about the cameras with Pope Leo. The pope said he was used to them. The service in the Sistine Chapel mixed traditions from both churches. They started with the Lord’s Prayer in English. Choirs from Windsor Castle and St James’s Palace sang hymns. This was the first time a British king prayed with a pope since Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church. Not everyone was happy about this. A Protestant leader from Northern Ireland said King Charles should step down if he prayed with the pope. He believed it went against the king’s oath to uphold the Protestant faith. A conservative Protestant group also expressed concern. King Charles and Queen Camilla also visited another important church in Rome. The king was given a special title there. A Vatican expert said this visit was a big step in the reconciliation between the two churches. He said the differences between Catholics and Anglicans are not as big as people think. This was not the first time King Charles visited the Vatican. He and Queen Camilla went in April to see the previous pope, Francis, who died soon after. King Charles wanted to return before the end of the Jubilee 2025. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, attended the last one in 2000. King Charles and Pope Leo talked about important issues like peace, poverty, and the environment. A Vatican expert said the king was eager to meet the new pope. However, there are concerns among conservative Catholics about the church becoming too friendly with Anglicans.