King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV are set to make history next week during the King and Queen Camilla’s state visit to the Vatican — a moment that will mark a new chapter in relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

The royal couple will spend two days in the Holy City from October 22 to 23. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed that “the visit will mark Their Majesties’ first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since his election in May 2025.”

The spokesperson added that the occasion “will also mark a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor,” reflecting ongoing efforts toward Christian unity and the Jubilee Year’s theme of “walking together as Pilgrims of Hope.”

A Historic Act of Prayer

The visit will include an unprecedented act of worship: King Charles and Pope Leo will pray together in an ecumenical service inside the Sistine Chapel — the first time a British monarch and pontiff have done so publicly since the Reformation, more than 500 years ago.

It will also mark the first occasion a reigning monarch has attended a service at St Paul’s Outside the Walls, a basilica with deep historic ties to the English Crown.

The moment is understood to hold deep personal meaning for the King, who will take part in the Papal Jubilee — a sacred period of forgiveness and reconciliation celebrated every 25 years by the Catholic Church.

Charles and Camilla were originally scheduled to visit the Vatican in April, but the trip was postponed due to health concerns surrounding Pope Francis, who passed away later that month. The royal couple had met privately with him before his death, and Pope Leo succeeded him soon after.

Strengthening Ties Between the UK and the Vatican

During the visit, King Charles and Queen Camilla will be received by Pope Leo in the Apostolic Palace. The King will then meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, while the Queen tours the Pauline Chapel, home to Michelangelo’s frescoes of St Peter and St Paul.

The monarch and the pontiff will later take part in a special ecumenical service focused on the “Care for Creation” — reflecting their shared commitment to environmental stewardship. Later, both leaders will attend a meeting on sustainability in the Vatican’s grand Sala Regia.

The visit will conclude with a service at the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls and a reception at the Pontifical Beda College.

A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office described the visit as “a key moment to strengthen this relationship” between the UK and the Holy See at a time of “global instability and conflict.”

They added: “The Catholic Church is the largest denomination of the world’s largest religion; it is also the world’s largest non-state education provider, educating 68 million students worldwide, and delivers a quarter of the world’s healthcare. His Majesty’s visit will therefore strengthen the UK’s relationship with this crucial and influential partner, helping to advance shared priorities — from promoting peace and security to tackling climate change.”