January 1, King Charles and Pope Unite After 500 Years

Wyatt’s Take

• King Charles and Pope Leo prayed together, breaking centuries-old barriers.
• The meeting signals hope for healing the split between Catholics and Anglicans.
• Some traditionalists on both sides remain wary of closer ties.

In a moment under the frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, King Charles III joined Pope Leo XIV in prayer.

This was the first time in nearly 500 years an English monarch and a pope have prayed side by side.

Charles is descended from Margaret Tudor, whose brother King Henry VIII started the Church of England’s separation from Rome.

The Church of England and the Vatican have kept their distance for centuries, only meeting for friendship in recent decades and never to pray together until now.

The meeting marked a major act of both faith and diplomacy, coming as the Catholic Church’s Jubilee wraps up.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the archbishop of Westminster, said:

“Pope Leo and King Charles coming together before God in prayer is an example of a genuine and profound cooperation.”

Along with their joint prayer, Charles and Leo spoke with business leaders about environmental issues in Vatican’s Apostolic Palace before moving to St. Paul Outside the Walls.

There, Leo gave Charles the honorary title of “Royal Confrater” and accepted his own “Papal Confrater” role at St. George’s Chapel in England.

The event was described as “a genuine step forward in Christian unity.”

Since their 16th-century split, relations have improved, but leaders had never prayed together until now. Past meetings included Queen Elizabeth II and several popes, but always without a shared prayer.

Charles has focused on finding shared moral ground as a monarch, even calling himself a “defender of faiths” rather than just “the faith.”

Still, some Catholics and Anglicans are uneasy about drawing closer, raising concerns over religious tradition and English law.

The Catholic Church is the largest Christian group worldwide with 1.4 billion members, while Anglican and Episcopal churches have around 100 million followers.

Vatican reporter Hendro Munsterman said the prayer was a symbol of the growing closeness between the two branches of Christianity:

“The king’s visit really symbolizes that there is a communion and respect between the two.”

He added:

“This is significant because it’s a pilgrimage-state visit.”

This rare prayer between Charles and Pope Leo shows what’s possible when old divisions start to heal. Faith in action can help build respect and unity, but only if everyday folks see real change and not just ceremony.

Wyatt Matters

Ordinary Americans know what it’s like to live with divisions that stretch back generations. When leaders actually kneel together and put aside pride, it gives the rest of us hope we can find common ground here at home too.

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