The King and Queen of England will make their first official visit to Pope Leo XIV on Oct. 22-23. An unexpected part of their Vatican agenda is the King of England praying with the new pope in an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel – the first time a British monarch has prayed publicly with a pope since the Reformation.
This trip has been on the books for many months, but the details of the Royal Family's agenda have only recently been revealed.
Camilla and Charles will arrive in Rome on October 22, and after the ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel on the 23, King Charles will meet privately with Pope Leo at the Apostolic Palace to discuss common issues like sustainability and the unity of Christians.
After their visit with the Pope, Camilla and King Charles to travel to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls to attend a vespers service. There, King Charles will be gifted the title of ´Confrater´ or "co-brother" by the Benedictine Abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
After their visit to the Basilica, King Charles will visit the Pontifical Beda College, a college under the patronage of the Anglo-Saxon monk and chronicler, St. Bede.
This visit was originally intended to take place in April with Pope Francis for the Jubilee of Hope. However, that official visit had to be postponed due to the failing health of Pope Francis.
Instead of an official state visit, Charles and Camilla met privately with Pope Francis in Casa Santa Marta on April 9, their wedding anniversary.
CRT
