Church Moderator accompanies the King to meet Pope

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland accompanied Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on a trip to the Vatican to meet with Pope Leo XIV.

The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, also joined the historic Royal tour to the Holy See, which has been chosen to take place during a Jubilee year for the Catholic Church.

During the visit Rt Rev Rosie Frew took part in an audience with the Pontiff and attended ecumenical worship at the Sistine Chapel focussing on the theme ‘Care for Creation'.

She also went with the King, the Pope and the Archbishop of York to a special ceremony at Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls, which is where St Paul the Apostle is thought to be buried and is one of the four major basilicas of Rome.

Here King Charles was given the honorary title of Royal Confrater, and presented with a special chair for the exclusive use of himself and his heirs at the basilica.

During this service Mrs Frew read from Ephesians 4:1-6 (King James Version):

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
In addition to taking part in the acts of worship, Mrs Frew was able to present the King and the Pope each with a copy of the Saint Margaret Declaration, a historic statement of friendship between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland.

Rev Tara Curlewis, who is the minister of the Church of Scotland's congregation in Rome, also attended the services at the Sistine Chapel and Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls.

Rt Rev Rosie Frew said:

"It was a privilege to have been asked by the King to be part of his delegation, to take the Pope the greetings of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and to speak with him of the Saint Margaret Declaration, to be at the service in the Sistine Chapel, to pray along with the King and Queen at the Tomb of Saint Paul, and to read one of the lessons at the service in Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls.

"It was also fascinating to look behind the scenes of a royal visit and the phenomenal organisation that goes into it.

"I've got memories that will last a lifetime of flying on the King's plane, being in the royal convey going through the streets of Rome, being escorted through corridors, rooms and enormous staircases in the Vatican, having time to spend in the Sistine Chapel, and eating a picnic lunch sitting on a wall outside St Paul's alongside the Archbishop of York.

"What happened during the visit at the highest level is what is already happening across our lands when Christians of all denominations come together to worship and pray.

"The visit also allowed me to meet Rev Tara Curlewis, the minister of the Church of Scotland's congregation in Rome, who was a great support throughout the day.

"I was also able to catch-up with Father Nick, depute director of the Scots College in Rome who was a colleague in Melrose as well as some of the Scots studying there. One, from Bathgate, played the bagpipes for the King's arrival."

The visit marks the first time a British monarch has prayed with the Pope at least since before the Reformation in the 16th century.