There are calls in Protestant circles for the abdication of King Charles III after praying jointly with the Pope

Kyle Paisley, a prominent religious figure in the Free Presbyterian Church of Northern Ireland, has called for King Charles III’s abdication after he participated in a joint prayer with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. According to the priest, the monarch, who is the supreme ruler of the Church of England, broke his coronation oath to be a «true Protestant.»

CNA reports that after King Charles III, accompanied by Queen Camilla, prayed with the Pope and Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, Protestant priest Kyle Paisley, son of prominent politician Ian Paisley, said the king should «give up his seat to someone else who is a true Protestant and will take his vows seriously.»

In his statements to the media, Paisley emphasized that the king, who had sworn to uphold the Protestant religion, had by his action «denied the Christian gospel, went against the Holy Scriptures and lied in his oath.» He pointed out the fundamental doctrinal differences: «Protestantism accepts the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice. Catholicism does not. Its rule is Scripture interpreted by the Church … and tradition.»

Other Protestant organizations also expressed criticism. The Orange Order called the ecumenical prayer «a sad day for Protestantism,» expressing «deep regret.» Wallace Thompson of the Evangelical Protestant Society of Northern Ireland also said «profound doctrinal differences» made the joint prayer inappropriate. In his opinion, this symbolic gesture is a signal that the king «deep down does not want» to fulfill his coronation vows.

On October 24, the Vatican hosted an event marking a new milestone in relations between the Anglican and Catholic Churches: King Charles III of Great Britain and Pope Leo XIV held a joint prayer. This is the first such meeting between the British monarch, who is head of the Church of England, and the pontiff since the 16th century Reformation.