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Almost a year to the day the king’s visit to Rome marked the first time a British monarch had prayed with the pope at a public service since the Reformation.
King Charles bestowed a rare honor on Pope Leo XIV and it comes a year after the pair made history when they prayed together in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel in a symbolic moment of unity for Anglicans and Roman Catholics worldwide.
Almost a year ago to the day of the king’s visit to Rome, the first time a British monarch, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, prayed at a public service with the Pope, head of the Catholic Church, since the Reformation.
Now Pope Leo XIV has adopted an honorary title that reflects a “shared desire for Christian unity” between him and the king, Buckingham Palace said.
The Dean and Canons of Windsor have announced that Pope Leo XIV has become a Papal Confratern of the College of St George in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
On the trip to Rome, where Queen Camilla also participated, the King was welcomed as a Royal Confratern by the Papal Basilica and the Abbey of St Paul’s Outside the Walls. On Friday, Buckingham Palace said: “This act of brotherhood represents a visible sign of spiritual community, ecumenical friendship and Christian brotherhood.
“It recognizes both the centuries-old relationship between the College and the Chapel of St George, Windsor and the Holy See, and the progress in relationships between the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.
“It also reflects the deep mutual esteem between His Holiness and His Majesty and their shared desire for Christian unity.”
To mark this sign of fraternity, specially commissioned chairs were created for the two religious sites. The chair presented to the King sits next to the cloisters at St Paul’s Outside the Walls, and a matching chair for the Pope will be unveiled at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Meanwhile, the Pope will miss a planned trip to Assisi next week as he continues to recover from chest surgery. He was due to participate in an event on October 27 to mark the 40th anniversary of St John Paul II. To mark World Day of Prayer for Peace.
The Pope’s health condition was confirmed earlier this month after the Vatican said he underwent a “successful” scheduled surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Lung adenocarcinoma is a common type of lung cancer.
