500 YEARS OF SCHISM: BEHIND KING CHARLES III’s VATICAN VISIT LIES THE DIVORCE THAT CHANGED HISTORY

The Root of Religious Revolution: How Henry VIII’s Desire to Divorce Catherine of Aragon Created the Church of England

VATICAN / LONDON – A remarkable diplomatic summit occurred on October 23rd in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, bridging a schism that has lasted nearly five centuries. King Charles III of England and Pope Leo of the Catholic Church attended Mass together, an event hailed as a “historic moment” for relations between the Anglican and Catholic churches. Yet, the root of this historic convergence lies in a single, deeply personal decision made centuries ago: King Henry VIII’s desire for a divorce.

As reported by Walid Badran for the BBC, the narrative of the Anglican Church’s separation from Rome is inextricably linked to the story of King Henry VIII, who ruled England for 38 years. His pursuit of the Divorce That Changed History became the symbolic catalyst for one of the most dramatic religious and political transformations in European history.

💔 DIVORCE DESIRE: LOVE, HEIR, AND CATASTROPHE

Born on June 28, 1491, Henry VIII, the son of the first Tudor monarch, ascended the throne in 1509 at the age of 18. After his coronation, he married Catherine of Aragon from the Spanish Royal Family.

• The Dynasty Obsession: Their marriage produced Princess Mary, the future Queen Mary I. However, Henry’s overwhelming obsession with securing a male heir to secure the Tudor dynasty led him to view his marriage to Catherine as a potential “divine curse.”
• Affection for Anne Boleyn: Henry’s growing affection for Anne Boleyn, one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, coupled with his conviction that she would bear him a son, fueled his desire to annul his marriage to Catherine.
• The Pope’s Veto: Divorce was forbidden under Catholic doctrine. Consequently, Henry sought an annulment from Pope Clement VII. The Pope’s refusal, driven by Catherine’s powerful family ties and the doctrine’s infallibility, ignited a direct conflict between Henry’s personal will and the Church’s ultimate authority.

👑 THE BIRTH OF ANGLICANISM AND POLITICAL REVOLUTION

Henry’s defiance against Papal authority culminated in legislative action. Therefore, his determination to marry Anne Boleyn fundamentally altered England’s political and religious destiny.

• The Act of Supremacy (1534): Henry’s resolve led to the passage of the Act of Supremacy by the English Parliament in 1534. This law declared King Henry VIII the Supreme Head of the Church of England.
• Break from Rome: As a result, the Catholic Church in England officially separated from Rome and Papal jurisdiction. The Church of England was born. Thus, a personal desire for the Divorce That Changed History became the catalyst for a massive religious reformation and England’s political sovereignty. This move also led to the dissolution of England’s monasteries, enabling the state to seize vast church lands and transform its economic power.

📅 HENRY’S LEGACY AND MODERN DIPLOMACY

Henry VIII, who died in 1547, reigned for 38 years and married six times. Three of his children—Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Edward VI—went on to become English monarchs.

Henry’s reign coincided with the dawn of the English Renaissance and the most critical period of the religious Reformation reshaping Europe. Consequently, his decision regarding the Divorce That Changed History initiated a schism that has spanned centuries between the Anglican and Catholic churches.

Today, King Charles III’s participation in Mass with Pope Leo in the Sistine Chapel is viewed as the most significant attempt to mend the religious rift created by Henry VIII’s radical decision five centuries ago. This meeting is an emblematic step toward easing the historic tension between the two major Christian denominations of the Western world.