King Charles III prays with pope in historic visit, a welcome respite from royal troubles at home

VATICAN CITY (AP) — King Charles III and Queen Camilla prayed Thursday with Pope Leo XIV in an historic visit to the Vatican to forge closer relations between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, a welcome spiritual respite for the royals from the turmoil at home over sexual misconduct allegations against Prince Andrew.

Charles, who is the titular head of the Church of England, and Camilla sat in golden thrones on the raised altar of the Sistine Chapel, in front of Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment,” while Leo and the Anglican archbishop of York presided over an ecumenical service.

The event marked the first time since the Reformation that the heads of the two Christian churches, divided for centuries over issues that now include the ordination of female priests, have prayed together.

The accompanying music reflected the Catholic and Anglican musical heritage: Hymns were sung by members of both the Sistine Chapel choir and visiting members of two royal choirs: the St. George’s Chapel choir of Windsor Castle and the children’s choir of the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace.

The visit comes as the U.K. royal family is once again under intense scrutiny over Prince Andrew’s ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The scandal that has long dogged the king’s brother was reignited this week after a memoir by Epstein and Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre was published.

The 65-year-old prince has said he will stop using his titles, including Duke of York, but has “vigorously” denied Giuffre’s claims. Buckingham Palace and the U.K. government are under pressure to formally strip Andrew of his dukedom and princely title, and kick him out of the 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle where he lives.

Charles' and Camilla’s visit had actually been planned for earlier this year, but was rescheduled after Pope Francis got sick and then died. Charles had strongly wanted to visit the Vatican during the 2025 Holy Year, a once-every-quarter-century celebration of Christianity.

Anglicans split from the Catholic Church in 1534 when English King Henry VIII was refused a marriage annulment. While popes for decades have forged warm relations with the Church of England and the broader Anglican Communion on a path toward greater unity, the two churches remain divided.

The Sistine Chapel service, though, marked a historic new step toward unity and included readings and prayers focused on the unifying theme of God the creator.

Later Thursday, Charles traveled to a pontifical basilica that has strong, traditional ties to the Church of England, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, to receive a new formal recognition. The title “Royal Confrater” is a sign of spiritual fellowship and was reciprocated by Charles: Leo was given the title of “Papal Confrater of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.”

At the basilica, Charles sat in a special chair decorated with his coat of arms, bearing the Latin exhortation “Ut Unum Sint” (That they may be one), the mantra for Christian unity. The chair was given to him and will remain in the basilica for Charles and his heirs to use, officials said.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Catholic archbishop of Westminster, said that the king’s visit strengthens the relationship forged by Queen Elizabeth II, who came to Rome six times during her reign, including during the 2000 Holy Year.

“Pope Leo and King Charles coming together before God in prayer is an example of a genuine and profound cooperation,” he told The Associated Press. He recalled that Charles accepted his constitutional role as supreme governor of the Church of England, “but also his role in protecting freedom of religion and the important role of faith in society across his kingdom.”

The visit comes just weeks after the election of the first female archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally. She didn't join the king and queen at the Vatican, since she hasn’t been formally installed as the Church of England’s spiritual leader. In her place was the archbishop of York, the Most Rev. Stephen Cottrell.

While the king copes with tensions over the Epstein scandal at home, Mullally's election has heightened tensions within the Anglican Communion abroad. The archbishop of Canterbury is considered the “first among equals” in the Anglican Communion, which has more than 85 million members spread across 165 countries. But following Mullally's appointment, a long-building schism in the Anglican Communion appears close to a final rupture.

An organization of conservative Anglican primates — representing a majority of the communion’s membership, primarily in Africa — announced that it's rejecting all of the bureaucratic links that have historically connected the Anglican Communion.

The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, known as Gafcon, says it’s forming a new structure, although it claims it represents the historic Anglican Communion in a “reordered” form.

Its statement denounced the LGBTQ-affirming stances of some parts of the Anglican Communion as precipitating the break, a reference to positions taken by the Church of England and the Episcopal Church in the United States. But it closely followed another Gafcon statement lamenting Mullally’s appointment, saying that many believe that only men can be bishops and rejecting her office as a defining point of Anglican unity.

Peter B. Smith contributed to this report from Pittsburgh.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Pope Leo XIV, center, cheers with Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV, center, cheers with Queen Camilla and Britain's King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV, center, shakes hands with Britain's Queen Camilla as King Charles III looks on, in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

In this picture made available by Vatican media, Britain's King Charles III, second from right, and Queen Camilla, right, attend a joint prayer with Pope Leo XIV, fourth from right, and the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, fifth from right, in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on the theme of 'Care for Creation', Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP, HO)

Pope Leo XIV, center, poses flanked by Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV, center, cheers with Britain's King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Britain's Queen Camilla arrives with King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

Britain's King Charles III arrives with Queen Camilla in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

Britain's Queen Camilla arrives with King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

Britain's Queen Camilla, foreground arrives with King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

In this picture made available by Vatican Media, Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla pose with Pope Leo XIV as they meet at the Vatican during a state visit, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP, HO)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at Ciampino 31st Wing Airport in the outskirts of Rome, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, a day before their state visit to the Vatican. (Cecilia Fabiano/ Lapresse via AP)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at Ciampino 31st Wing Airport in the outskirts of Rome, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, a day before their state visit to the Vatican. (Cecilia Fabiano/ Lapresse via AP)

Britain's King Charles III arrives at Ciampino 31st Wing Airport in the outskirts of Rome, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, a day before a state visit to the Vatican. (Cecilia Fabiano/ Lapresse via AP)

Swiss Guards march prior to the arrival of Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at Ciampino 31st Wing Airport in the outskirts of Rome, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, a day before their state visit to the Vatican. (Cecilia Fabiano/ Lapresse via AP)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.

Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.

Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.

“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”

Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.

“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”

The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.

Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.

With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.

“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."

The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.

Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.

“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”

This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)