FOR THE FIRST time since the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century, the Pope and reigning British monarch have publicly prayed together.
Britain’s King Charles joined Pope Leo XIV for an ecumenical prayer for the care of creation inside the Sistine Chapel within the Vatican.
The move has attracted criticism from Reverend Kyle Paisley, the son of the late DUP founder Ian Paisley, who has called for Charles to abdicate.
As well as marking the first time a pope and British monarch have prayed publicly together since Henry VIII around 500 years, today also marked the first meeting between Pope Leo and Charles.
The decision by Henry VIII to break with Rome was triggered by the then pope’s refusal to annul Henry’s marriage so he could marry another woman and the schism made the monarch head of the separate Church of England.
In 1961, the late Queen Elizabeth, Charles’s mother, became the first British monarch to visit the Holy See since the split.
Meanwhile, a law was changed in 2013 so that marrying a Catholic would no longer disqualify someone from becoming British monarch – although they still have to be a Protestant themselves.
Today’s service inside the Sistine Chapel brought together clergy and choirs from both the Catholic Church and the Church of England, of which Charles is the supreme governor.
Prior to this, Leo and Charles met privately in the Apostolic Palace and they will later be joined by business leaders for a discussion on environmental sustainability.
The late Pope Francis made climate issues a cornerstone of his papacy and early into his reign, Leo seems to be threading a similar course.
Charles also has a long history in speaking on the environment and addressed the Cop28 Climate summit on the dangers of climate change.
But prior to this prayer service, the son of the late DUP founder Ian Paisley called for Charles to “abdicate” the throne for praying publicly with Leo.
As well as being the DUP founder, Ian Paisley also founded the Free Presbyterian Church and his son Kyle is a Free Presbyterian Church pastor.
Speaking yesterday on BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback, Kyle Paisley claimed that Charles would not be “true to his oath”, in which he vowed to uphold the Protestant faith, if he joined Leo in prayer at the Sistine Chapel.
Paisley called on Charles to “uphold the protestant faith” and added that praying with Leo would mean that he is “breaking his oath”.
When asked if he thinks Charles should abdicate if he prays with Leo, he replied: “Yes, because I don’t think he is being true to his oath.”
“I don’t for the life of me see how he can engage in that kind of corporate worship,” he added.
In 1988, Ian Paisley protested against Pope John Paul II when the late Polish pontiff was addressing the European Parliament.
He interrupted the address and said: “I denounce you, antichrist. I refuse you as Christ’s enemy and antichrist with all your false doctrine.”
He was then forcibly removed from the chamber.
‘Bulwark against conflict’
Today’s display of togetherness is seen as a symbolic reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.
Charles has received a Papal knighthood, which is one of the highest honours a pope can bestow.
Speaking before the meeting, Charles’s spokesperson said that the building of stronger relations with the Vatican can act as a “bulwark against those promoting conflict, division and tyranny”.
The historic meeting is taking place amid the backdrop of the Prince Andrew scandal and Buckingham Palace will hope that this visit will shift focus away from Andrew and back to the working royals.
Following a ‘discussion’ with Charles, Andrew gave up his remaining titles and honours, including the Duke of York, in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
It came just days before the publication of a memoir by Andrew’s late alleged victim, Virginia Giuffre, to whom he paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case.