King Charles Meets Pope Leo in Historic Vatican Worship Amid Andrew Controversy

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are undertaking a historic state visit to the Vatican, marking the first time since the 1530s Reformation that a British monarch and the Pope will publicly pray together in an ecumenical service at the Sistine Chapel. This visit coincides with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year of 2025 and symbolizes a new era of interfaith harmony and mutual respect between the Church of England, led by King Charles as its Supreme Governor, and the Catholic Church under Pope Leo XIV. During the visit, King Charles will be honored as a 'Royal Confrater' of the Papal Basilica and Abbey of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, with a specially crafted chair bearing his coat of arms to be used during the service and permanently displayed as a lasting emblem of this spiritual brotherhood. The royal household hopes the visit will shift attention away from ongoing controversies involving Prince Andrew, particularly regarding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and his royal title. This is the first meeting between King Charles and Pope Leo XIV since the latter's election, and the visit reflects deep symbolism and a milestone in relations between the two churches. The couple's visit also follows a brief encounter with the previous pope, Pope Francis, earlier in the year.