Why King Charles broke a 500-year-old royal tradition to pray with Pope Leo

King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV just made history.

The British monarch, 76, and the head of the Catholic church, 70, prayed together in the Sistine Chapel this morning (Thursday 23 October), marking the first time a monarch and pontiff have done so in more than 500 years.

It comes amid the King and Queen Camilla's two-day state visit to the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican, after they arrived in Rome yesterday.

The visit is understood to be deeply significant for Charles personally, who is head of the Church of England, and also marks a celebration of the Papal Jubilee, held every 25 years.

For those unfamiliar, the Papal Jubilee is a special period of forgiveness and reconciliation in the Catholic Church.

And this visit, the prayer in particular, makes for a symbolic display of unity between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.

King Charles and Pope Leo have marked a historical moment by praying together (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The royal couple were greeted by Pope Leo in his official residence, the Apostolic Palace ahead of a momentous day of events.

Queen Camilla had all eyes on her as she wore a traditional black outfit to meet the Pope, including a dramatic veil over her head and shoulders.

The strange outfit choice has left some royal fans baffled, however, she's actually wearing a mantilla, a lace veil that women have traditionally worn during Catholic services.

Wearing the accessory is a protocol for female dignitaries to follow when they meet the Pope.

Why King Charles and the Pope prayed together

This marks a significant moment for Charles, who has been a longstanding campaigner for building bridges between faiths, reports the BBC.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said about the trip: "The visit will mark Their Majesties’ first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since his election in May 2025.

"The visit will also mark a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England, of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor, recognising the ecumenical work they have undertaken and reflecting the Jubilee year’s theme of walking together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’."

The important moment took place in the Sistine Chapel (Pool /Getty Images)

The statement continued: "This will be the first state visit, since the Reformation, where the Pope and the Monarch will pray together in an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel, and the first time the monarch will have attended a service in St Paul’s Outside the Walls, a church with an historic connection to the English Crown."

As per the BBC, the King and Pope are also gifting each other a token to mark the important moment.

Charles is reportedly giving the Pope an icon of St Edward the Confessor and in return, the Pope is giving the King a scale version of a mosaic, which depicts an image of Christ that's in a Norman cathedral in Cefalu, in Sicily.

After the prayer, the King and Pope made their way out of the Sistine Chapel, where the Queen remained to meet the choirs.

The two leaders headed to the Sala Regia, a room next door to the Chapel, where they are attending a talk about efforts being made to support sustainability and nature.