King Charles has granted a rare honour to Pope Leo XIV, coming a year after the pair created history by praying together within the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel in a powerful demonstration of unity between Anglicans and Roman Catholics worldwide.
Nearly twelve months ago, the King’s Roman visit marked the first occasion a British monarch, serving as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, had participated in public worship alongside the Pope, leader of the Catholic Church, since the Reformation era.
Pope Leo XIV has now accepted an honorary position representing a “shared desire for Christian unity” between himself and the King, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. The Dean and Canons of Windsor have revealed that Pope Leo XIV has been appointed Papal Confrater of the College of St George at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
During the Rome visit, which Queen Camilla also joined, the King received the title of Royal Confrater of the Papal Basilica and Abbey of St Paul’s Outside the Walls. On Friday, Buckingham Palace stated: “This act of confraternity represents a visible sign of spiritual fellowship, ecumenical friendship and Christian fraternity.”
“It recognises both the centuries-old relationship between the College and Chapel of St George, Windsor and the Holy See, and the progress in relations 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 commemorate these symbols of fellowship, bespoke chairs have been crafted for both religious locations. The chair gifted to the King has been positioned alongside the monastic stalls at St Paul’s Outside the Walls, while a matching chair for the Pope will be revealed at St George’s Chapel in Windsor at a later date.
Meanwhile, the Pope will be absent from a scheduled visit to Assisi next week as he continues his recovery following thoracic surgery. He had been expected to participate in an event on October 27 commemorating the 40th anniversary of St John Paul II’s World Day of Prayer for Peace.
The Pope’s medical situation was disclosed earlier this month when the Vatican announced he had undergone a “successful” planned operation to extract the lower lobe of his right lung. Lung adenocarcinoma is a prevalent form of lung cancer.