By Katherine Tinsley
1:13pm PDT, Oct 23, 2025
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Pope Leo XIV gave King Charles III the distinction of being the Royal Confraternities of the Abbey and Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls.
Charles is the first British king to pray with a pope since King Henry VIII. Henry famously left the Catholic church and started the Church of England after Pope Clement VII refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. The British monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a position they hold in a ceremonial capacity.
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King Charles III's trip to the Vatican is a big milestone for the monarch.
"The visit will mark Their Majesties' first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since his election in May 2025. The visit will also mark a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England, of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor, recognizing the ecumenical work they have undertaken and reflecting the Jubilee year's theme of walking together as 'Pilgrims of Hope,'" a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement.
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King Charles III has a history of showing support for a diversity of religions and embracing them.
"The meeting for prayer between King Charles,
Queen Camilla and Pope Leo is highly significant as a similar ceremony has not happened for centuries. Charles is Supreme Governor for the Church of England and has longed for building bridges with other faiths," royal expert
Ian Pelham Turner told
Fox News Digital.
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King Charles III's trip is the beginning of a new era for the Anglican and Catholic churches. However, Prince Andrew's scandalous ties to Jeffrey Epstein might have ruined the moment.
"Regrettably, while this trip should be so momentous after 500 years of division, putting old divisions of the Reformation in the past with a wonderful new era of Christians uniting, instead, it is overshadowed by the despicable moral depravity of his brother. This is compounded by the system and those who also protected him," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich said.
