León XIV and King Charles III of the United Kingdom presided over this October 23, 2025 ecumenical prayer in the Sistine Chapel, in a gesture —denominated as historic— that symbolizes the rapprochement between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. The ceremony, held in Latin and English, was centered on the theme of “common commitment to creation” and was framed within the Jubilee of Hope convened by the Holy See.
A prayer for creation and unity
According to Vatican media reports, the event began at 12:20 p.m., with a liturgy carefully prepared to reflect the ecumenical dimension of the encounter. The prayer combined readings, songs, and moments of silence, in an atmosphere of respect and spiritual communion.
The prayer included hymns and biblical passages centered on the Christian hope and praise to the Creator God. The choirs of the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace, the St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, and the Pontifical Sistine Musical Chapel performed pieces by the English composer Thomas Tallis, including the hymn If ye love me, inspired by the Gospel of Saint John.
Ecumenical participation and gesture of communion
The Pontiff was accompanied by Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, the highest authority of the Church of England —until the official appointment of Sarah Mullally in January 2026—, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and president of the Episcopal Conference of England and Wales, and Archbishop Leo Cushley, of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, representing the Catholic Church in Scotland. The Reverend Rosie Frew, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, also participated.
The culminating moment of the celebration —according to Vatican News— came when León XIV and Archbishop Cottrell recited together the Trinitarian invocation:
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us forever.”
At the end, the Pope and King Charles left the Sistine Chapel walking side by side, a gesture that the Holy See described as “an image of unity amid differences”.
Meeting in the Apostolic Palace
Hours before the ceremony, the Pope had received King Charles III and Queen Camilla in an official audience in the Vatican Apostolic Palace. Subsequently, the monarch held a meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, and with Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.
During the meetings, the good state of bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See was highlighted. Common interest topics were addressed such as the protection of the environment, the fight against poverty, and the promotion of peace and international security, in addition to the shared commitment to ecumenical dialogue.
The Vatican described the day as “a concrete expression of communion and hope”, which combines diplomatic dialogue with common prayer. The joint presence of the Pope and the British monarch in a liturgical act —something that had not occurred since the 9th century— was interpreted as a gesture of historical reconciliation between Rome and the Church of England.