King Charles III prays with pope in historic visit, a welcome respite from royal troubles at home

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Updated 11:06 AM CDT, October 23, 2025
Leer en español

VATICAN CITY (AP) — King Charles III and Queen Camilla prayed Thursday with Pope Leo XIV in an historic visit to the Vatican to forge closer relations between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, a welcome spiritual respite for the royals from the turmoil at home over sexual misconduct allegations against Prince Andrew.

Charles, who is the titular head of the Church of England, and Camilla sat in golden thrones on the raised altar of the Sistine Chapel, in front of Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment,” while Leo and the Anglican archbishop of York presided over an ecumenical service.

The event marked the first time since the Reformation that the heads of the two Christian churches, divided for centuries over issues that now include the ordination of female priests, have prayed together.

The accompanying music reflected the Catholic and Anglican musical heritage: Hymns were sung by members of both the Sistine Chapel choir and visiting members of two royal choirs: the St. George’s Chapel choir of Windsor Castle and the children’s choir of the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-king-charles-visit-21d45caccfa4d06cbd975cca542e2cb4

[wcmagumba]

1. As a non-believer I say, hmmph...

[Gore1FL]

2. I'm there with you.

I know this is important to some. If nothing else there is symbolism.

In the end, hmmph...

[elleng]

3. 'The event marked the first time since the Reformation that the heads of the two Christian churches,

divided for centuries over issues that now include the ordination of female priests, have prayed together.'

[BaronChocula]

4. I feel bad for the pope

Were the Kardashians too busy?

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. "divided over the ordination of female priests" - this represented a convenient window

Sarah Mullally has been named as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, but the official "installation" is not until March 2026. That leaves the Archbishop of York as the current most senior CofE cleric, so he could jointly take the service without conservatives complaining that the Pope worked with a woman.