Rome: Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III, who also serves as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, made history on Thursday by praying together in the Sistine Chapel. It marked the first time in five centuries that a British monarch prayed publicly with a pope since the Church of England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. King Henry VIII severed ties with Rome in 1534 after the Vatican refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

According to Philippines News Agency, the ecumenical service was led by Pope Leo XIV alongside the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell. Queen Camilla stood beside the King throughout the ceremony. Before the service, Charles, who arrived in Rome on Wednesday, held a private meeting with Pope Leo at the Apostolic Palace, their first encounter since Leo's election earlier this year. The Pope greeted the monarch in English, saying 'Welcome' as Charles entered the papal library on his way to the chapel. The King replied he was 'thrilled' by the occasion.

The two have exchanged gifts. Charles presented the Pope with a large silver photograph and an icon of Saint Edward the Confessor, while the Pope gifted the King a scale reproduction of the mosaic of 'Christ Pantocrator' from the Norman Cathedral of Cefal¹, Sicily, a work produced within the Vatican.