Who was the last monarch to pray with the Pope? Full details as King set for historic trip

King Charles is set to make history during his state visit to the Vatican, becoming the first British monarch since the Reformation to pray at a public service with the Pope. The service will be the first time a monarch and the pontiff have joined together in this type of moment of reflection in the 500 years since the Reformation when, in 1534, King Henry VIII declared himself as head of the Church of England and broke from the papal authority of the Rome Catholic Church.

This historic moment will take place in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican when the Supreme Governor of the Church of England will join Pope Leo XIV, head of the Catholic Church, to pray during an ecumenical service, a symbolic moment of the continuing dialogue between their two churches.

The two-day visit from October 22 to 23 is understood to be deeply significant for the King, who will also celebrate the Papal Jubilee, an event held every 25 years.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "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, recognising the ecumenical work they have undertaken and reflecting the Jubilee year's theme of walking together as 'Pilgrims of Hope'."

The King and Queen will meet the Pope and senior Vatican officials, and there will be a special ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel, focused on the theme of 'Care for Creation', bringing together Catholic and Anglican traditions, which will see the King and Pope praying together.

The service will also feature the Children of the Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal and the Choir of St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, accompanied by the Sistine Chapel Choir.

Once the Queen has met the choirs, Her Majesty will rejoin The King and the Pope, to meet the guests in the Sala Regia, before bidding farewell to Pope Leo XIV and departing the Apostolic Palace.

After the visit to the Holy See, King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit the Papal Basilica and Abbey of St. Paul's Outside the Walls, where Charles has been made "Royal Confrater" of the Abbey, a recognition from the Pope of spiritual fellowship. Celebrating that bond is the gift of the special chair for King Charles. It will remain in the apse of the Basilica for future use by the King and his heirs and successors.

After the service, the King is expected to attend a reception at the Pontifical Beda College, a seminary which trains priests from across the Commonwealth, while Camilla will meet six Catholic Sisters from the International Union of Superiors General.

The Sisters are working around the world at the grassroots level to support female empowerment through girls' education programs and improved access to healthcare.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: "His Majesty's visit will therefore strengthen the UK's relationship with this crucial and influential partner, helping to deliver on the Government's priorities - from promoting peace and security around the world to working with our international partners to tackle climate change."

King Henry VIII famously broke ties with Rome and established the Church of England, and during the following centuries, relations between the English state and the papacy were marked by "mutual distrust", said a Church of England spokesperson.

A Church of England spokesperson added: "Although diplomatic relations had been restored in 1914, there was no official United Kingdom Embassy to the Holy See until 1982, and Queen Elizabeth II was the first British Monarch since the Reformation to make an official visit to the Holy See, when she did so in 1961. "

Sources have emphasised the historic significance of this occasion, with the King having a long commitment to building bridges between faiths.