Pope Leo XIV Accepts Historic Honorary Title at Windsor’s St George’s Chapel

United Kingdom, October 26, 2026: Pope Leo XIV has accepted the honorary title of Papal Confrater of the College of St. George at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, in a historic gesture symbolising friendship and Christian unity between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England.

Reciprocal appointments with King Charles III highlight a renewed commitment to Christian unity after centuries of division

Announced by the Dean and Canons of Windsor on Friday, 23 October 2026, the appointment was made with the approval of King Charles III and the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It follows the King’s acceptance of a corresponding honorary title at the Papal Basilica and Abbey of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome during his state visit to the Holy See in October 2025.

The reciprocal appointments represent an important moment in relations between the Catholic Church and the Anglican tradition, nearly five centuries after the English Reformation brought their institutional separation.

A Symbol of Christian Brotherhood

The Dean and Canons described the Pope’s appointment as “a visible sign of spiritual fellowship, ecumenical friendship and Christian fraternity”.

The announcement said the gesture recognised the historic relationship between St. George’s Chapel and the Holy See, alongside the progress made in relations between the Catholic Church, the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion.

It also reflected the mutual esteem between Pope Leo and King Charles, as well as their shared desire to advance Christian unity.

The announcement recalled that, before the mid-sixteenth century, English monarchs had a historic role in relation to St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome. During the King’s 2025 state visit, he was welcomed as Royal Confrater of the basilica and abbey with the approval of the Pope.

With the King’s consent, the Dean and Canons of Windsor subsequently invited Pope Leo to accept the corresponding title at St. George’s Chapel.

Looking Beyond Centuries of Division

The appointments carry particular significance because of the separation between Rome and the Church of England under King Henry VIII during the sixteenth-century Reformation.

Although theological and institutional differences remain, both Churches have pursued dialogue and cooperation in recent decades. The reciprocal titles offer a visible expression of the desire to strengthen relationships while acknowledging their shared Christian heritage.

The Windsor announcement described the gestures as expressions of a commitment to unity in an increasingly polarised and turbulent world.

For Catholics, the development also reflects the importance of ecumenism: the work of building understanding, friendship and cooperation among Christians while respecting genuine differences in faith and tradition.

Chairs and a Gift of Sacred Art

Specially commissioned chairs have been created to commemorate the appointments. The chair presented to King Charles has been placed beside the monastic stalls at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. A corresponding chair for Pope Leo will be unveiled at St. George’s Chapel in due course.

Further strengthening the symbolism of the relationship, the King is expected to attend a service at Windsor later this autumn for the dedication and installation of a mosaic icon of the Christ of Cefalù. Pope Leo gifted the icon to the King during the 2025 state visit.

The appointment does not erase centuries of division, but it offers a meaningful sign of renewed fellowship. Through these reciprocal gestures, Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III have highlighted the possibility of building bridges across historic differences and working towards a more united Christian witness in the modern world.

Courtesy Royal UK