Protestant Leaders Condemn King Charles For Praying With Pope In Historic Vatican Meeting

Protestant leaders have condemned King Charles III for praying with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on October 23, arguing that the historic event violated his coronation oath to maintain the Protestant Reformed Religion.

The Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal organization, sent a formal letter of complaint to King Charles expressing disappointment after he became the first British monarch to pray publicly with a pope in 500 years. The letter was signed by the Grand Masters of Ireland, England, and Scotland: Edward Stevenson, Tim Lord, and Andrew Murray.

The Orange Standard, the institution's official publication, stated that praying with the pope contradicted the King's "solemn commitments" outlined by his coronation oath in 2023.

"In his 2023 coronation oath, King Charles swore to maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law," the publication stated.

The letter called on Charles to "reflect on his coronation oath" and the "promises he made before God" when he became king. The Orange Standard noted that many members of the Orange family "will have been disappointed" by the King's decision to pray with the pontiff.

The publication urged Orangemen and women "not to be discouraged or deflected from our solid foundations, which are rooted in the truths of the Reformation." It invoked the memory of Protestant martyrs Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, who were burned at the stake in October 1555 for their beliefs.

"Winds of change will always blow; they have done so down through the centuries and will no doubt continue. Nevertheless, it is important to remain steadfast in the Reformed faith, even in the face of opposition," the Orange Standard stated.

Reverend Kyle Paisley, son of the late DUP founder Ian Paisley, had called on Charles to cancel the engagement or to abdicate before the event occurred. "Let someone else take his place who is a true Protestant," Paisley stated.

Paisley said the monarch should "uphold the Protestant faith" and argued that in praying with the pope, Charles is "breaking his oath" and "not upholding his promise to defend a reformed faith when he mixes in that kind of way."

"The Protestant faith historically and theologically is a world apart from Catholicism," Paisley told the BBC. "I don't for the life of me see how he can engage in that kind of corporate worship."

King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV prayed together in the Sistine Chapel during a state visit to the Vatican on October 23. The event was the first joint worship including a British monarch and a Catholic pontiff since King Henry VIII broke away from Rome in 1534.

Although Charles has met the last three popes, and Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI traveled to Britain, their previous encounters never included joint prayers. The ecumenical prayer service was presided over by Pope Leo and Anglican Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell. It focused on care of creation and featured choirs from both the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

King Charles, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, described the visit as representing "a landmark in relationships between the Church of England and the Catholic Church."

He stated: "At times of such global challenge, it has seldom been more important for Christian communities around the world to unite in faith and in fellowship with our partners."

The visit coincided with the 2025 Jubilee Year, a once every quarter century celebration of Christianity in the Catholic Church. During the private meeting, King Charles presented Pope Leo with an icon of St. Edward the Confessor, and the Pope gave the King a scaled replica of the Christ Pantocrator mosaic from Sicily's Norman cathedral.

King Charles also conferred on the Pope the honor of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Bath, while the Pope conferred on the King the honor of Knight Grand Cross with the Collar of the Vatican Order of Pope Pius IX.

The Church of England originated in the 16th century when it separated from Roman Catholic authority under King Henry VIII after Pope Clement VII refused to annul Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon. This formal break created Anglicanism, a distinct tradition blending Catholic and Protestant elements.

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

The Orange Order is right to object.

King Charles swore an oath to maintain the Protestant Reformed Religion.

Then he prayed with the Pope in the Sistine Chapel.

Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burned at the stake for refusing Rome's authority.

Now their king kneels beside the Pope.

The Reformation wasn't about ecumenical feelings.

It was about truth versus error, Scripture versus tradition, Christ alone versus papal authority.

Five hundred years of Protestant witness betrayed for a photo opportunity. This isn't unity.

It's compromise.

TAKE ACTION

Support Protestant witness and defend the truths of the Reformation:

1. Orange Order
   Website: https://www.grandorangelodge.co.uk
   Contact: info@grandorange.org.uk
   Action: The Orange Order defends Protestant faith and the Reformation heritage. Contact them to express support for their letter to King Charles. Request information on how to join or support their work defending Protestant principles in the UK.
2. Protestant Truth Society
   Website: https://protestanttruth.com
   Contact: admin@protestanttruth.com
   Action: The Protestant Truth Society defends Reformation doctrine and opposes ecumenism with Rome. Donate to support their work. Request literature on the differences between Protestant and Catholic theology to share with your church.
3. Evangelical Protestant Society
   Website: https://www.evangelicalprotestant.org
   Action: This organization promotes evangelical Protestant faith and opposes compromise with Roman Catholic doctrine. Contact them to request resources on the Reformation and why Protestant distinctives matter. Support their educational work.
4. Write to Buckingham Palace
   Buckingham Palace
   London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom
   Email: https://www.royal.uk/contact
   Action: Write to King Charles expressing concern that his joint prayer with the Pope contradicts his coronation oath to maintain the Protestant Reformed Religion. Respectfully remind him of the Protestant martyrs who died for the truths of the Reformation. Ask him to publicly reaffirm his commitment to Protestant faith.
5. Support Reformation Resources
   Ligonier Ministries: https://www.ligonier.org
   Reformation Heritage Books: https://www.heritagebooks.org
   Action: Educate yourself and your church on Reformation doctrine. Purchase and distribute books on the five solas, justification by faith alone, and Protestant theology. Host a study on the differences between Roman Catholic and Protestant teaching.
6. Pray for Protestant Witness in the UK
   Action: Commit to praying for the Church of England and other Protestant churches in the United Kingdom to remain faithful to Reformation doctrine. Pray that church leaders would not compromise biblical truth for ecumenical unity. Pray for a revival of gospel preaching and Reformed theology in Britain.

Talking Points for Emails and Conversations:

• "King Charles swore to maintain the Protestant Reformed Religion in his coronation oath, then prayed with the Pope. This is a violation of his oath"
• "The Reformation was about recovering biblical truth. Protestant martyrs died for these truths. We cannot compromise them for ecumenism"
• "The theological differences between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism are not minor. They involve the Gospel itself"
• "Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria. These five solas are not negotiable"
• "True unity is based on truth, not on ignoring differences. We cannot have unity at the expense of the Gospel"
• "Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burned at the stake for refusing papal authority. King Charles dishonors their sacrifice by praying with the Pope"