Pope accepts honorary title after meeting King Charles

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 24 Oct, 04:44 · Archive

Pope Leo XIV has accepted an honorary title from King Charles, reflecting their shared desire for Christian unity.

Pope Leo XIV has accepted an honorary title from King Charles, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday. The Pope has become Papal Confrater of the College of St George at St George's Chapel, Windsor. The honour follows a state visit to the Vatican last year where King Charles and the Queen met the Pope and the King was welcomed as Royal Confrater of the Papal Basilica and Abbey of St Paul's Outside the Walls.

Buckingham Palace said the act of confraternity 'represents a visible sign of spiritual fellowship, ecumenical friendship and Christian fraternity'. The statement recognised the centuries-old relationship between St George's Chapel and the Holy See, and progress in relations between the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. It also reflected 'the deep mutual esteem between His Holiness and His Majesty and their shared desire for Christian unity'.

Specially commissioned chairs have been created for both religious sites to mark the confraternity. The chair for the King sits at St Paul's Outside the Walls, while a corresponding chair for the Pope will be unveiled at St George's Chapel in Windsor in due course.

Meanwhile, the Pope is continuing his recovery from thoracic surgery and will miss a planned trip to Assisi next week. He was due to attend an event on 27 October to mark the 40th anniversary of St John Paul II's World Day of Prayer for Peace.

How it is being reported

• Pope Leo XIV accepts rare honorary title from King Charles days after lung cancer surgeryKing Charles and Pope Leo made history in 2025 when they prayed together in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel in a symbolic moment of unity for Anglicans and Roman Catholics across the globeThe Mirror · 24 Oct, 04:22
• Pope accepts honorary title after meeting King, Buckingham Palace saysCharles and the Queen met the Pope on this day last year during a state visit to the VaticanThe Independent · 23 Oct, 14:53

In this story: Pope Leo XIV · King Charles · St George's Chapel, Windsor · Church of England · Roman Catholic Church · Buckingham Palace

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