King Charles thanks Catholic community for their prayers

King Charles III - Image: Jesuits in Britain 2021

King Charles held a reception for senior faith leaders in Buckingham Palace this evening. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy, the Very Rev David Hoyle and Rev Helen Cameron of the Free Churches Group, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Imam Dr Asim Yusuf were among the guests.

During his address, the King, who is now Supreme Governor of the Church of England, affirmed his commitment to his role as a religious leader, saying his work must include 'protecting the space for faith itself'.

He said: "I am very grateful to have had this opportunity to meet you all, so soon after my Accession, in what are inevitably the saddest of circumstances for me and my Family. I have been touched by your kind words of condolence more than I can possibly say. They mean a great deal to me.

"I also wanted, before all of you today, to confirm my determination to carry out my responsibilities as Sovereign of all communities around this country and the Commonwealth and in a way which reflects the world in which we now live.

I am a committed Anglican Christian, and at my Coronation I will take an oath relating to the settlement of the Church of England. At my Accession, I have already solemnly given- as has every Sovereign over the last 300 years - an Oath which pledges to maintain and preserve the Protestant faith in Scotland.

"I have always thought of Britain as a 'community of communities.' That has led me to understand that the Sovereign has an additional duty - less formally recognized but to be no less diligently discharged. It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for Faith itself and its practise through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals. This diversity is not just enshrined in the laws of our country, it is enjoined by my own faith. As a member of the Church of England, my Christian beliefs have love at their very heart. By my most profound convictions, therefore - as well as by my position as Sovereign - I hold myself bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals.

"The beliefs that flourish in, and contribute to, our richly diverse society differ. They, and our society, can only thrive through a clear collective commitment to those vital principles of freedom of conscience, generosity of spirit and care for others which are, to me, the essence of our nationhood. I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart.

"This conviction was the foundation of everything my beloved mother did for our country, over her years as our Queen. It has been the foundation of my own work as Prince of Wales. It will continue to be the foundation of all my work as King."

During the reception Cardinal Vincent Nichols had a personal conversation with the King. He said: "I assured him that the Catholic community had continued, during these days of mourning, in heartfelt prayer for his mother. He expressed his gratitude for this. And then, turning back to me, he asked me to ensure that the Catholics of our Diocese know of his thanks and gratitude for these prayers."