By Viktoriia Havaleshko
Rome continues to be a meeting place where Christian leaders and communities gather in a spirit of fraternity, dialogue, and common prayer. On Thursday, October 23, Pope Leo XIV took part in a series of events with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, including an ecumenical prayer service in the Sistine Chapel—marking a historic moment in Anglican–Catholic relations.
The day also included a private meeting between the two leaders at the Apostolic Palace and an ecumenical service at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where King Charles III was conferred the honorary title of Royal Confrater of Saint Paul.
At the invitation of the British Embassy to the Holy See, The Lay Centre was represented at the ecumenical service by its director, Dr. Filipe Domingues, together with two Anglican residents, Charlie Maidment and Natalie Nitsch. Their presence reflected the Centre’s mission to foster Christian unity through shared life and dialogue.
Witness and Reflection
For The Lay Centre, the participation of its residents in moments such as this embodies the spirit of lived ecumenism that lies at the heart of the Church’s mission. Through shared prayer, dialogue, and friendship, our community continues to promote unity—not only among churches, but within the hearts of all who seek it.
Reflecting on the experience, Lay Centre resident Natalie Nitsch shared:
“I made the invite list … because I am one of two Anglican residents at The Lay Centre this term. The event was impressive: I curtsied to a real, live monarch for the first time, heard beautiful English church music again—Purcell, Elgar, and more—and checked off the only papal basilica I hadn’t visited.”
She added that she is grateful to embody the ecumenical dimension of life at The Lay Centre. “I’ve also wondered about my role. It is nice to think that I’m contributing to increased religious dialogue simply by existing as an Episcopalian in a mostly Catholic community, but it seems somehow like there should be more to it.”
A Gesture of Friendship and Unity
The title of Royal Confrater of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls signifies a mutual pledge of friendship between the Church of England and the Catholic Church. The ceremony, led by Cardinal James Michael Harvey, Archpriest of the Basilica, together with Abbot Donato Ogliari, O.S.B., celebrated the longstanding ties between the Benedictine abbey and the United Kingdom.
A specially crafted chair bearing the royal coat of arms and the Latin motto “Ut unum sint” (“That they may all be one”) was created for the occasion—a visible reminder of the Christian call to unity that underpins ecumenical efforts across traditions.
