King Charles III of Great Britain took part in an ecumenical prayer led by Pope Leo XIV during a state visit to the Vatican. This is the first time in almost five centuries that the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the supreme ruler of the Church of England have prayed together. This is reported by Vatican News.
The king was accompanied by Queen Camilla. The prayer was held in English and Latin. Michelangelo’s frescoed chapel was filled with many guests, including the Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Leo Cashley, representing Scotland.
After a joint prayer, the Pope and the King held a meeting dedicated to environmental sustainability. A symbolic moment was the exchange between them of two identical specimens of the Cymbidium orchid – a plant that symbolizes strength, endurance and the ability to thrive even in difficult conditions. This exchange was an expression of their shared commitment to protecting the environment and caring for God’s creation.
The royal couple arrived in the Vatican on a state visit, which was originally planned for April this year. However, the trip was postponed due to the deterioration of the health of Pope Francis, who died on April 21. As part of the official program of the visit, another ecumenical service is planned – at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul outside the city walls.
