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The King reflected on war remembrance, global division, and shared faith values
King Charles has said people of different faiths have “so much in common” as he urged compassion, reconciliation and unity in his Christmas Day message.
In his annual broadcast, which aired at 3pm, the King reflected on a recent State Visit to the Vatican with Queen Camilla and spoke of shared values across religions at a time of global division.
“A few weeks ago, The Queen and I were delighted to make a State Visit to the Vatican where we prayed with Pope Leo in a historic moment of spiritual unity,” the King said.
“As I meet people of different faiths, I find it enormously encouraging to hear how much we have in common; a shared longing for peace and a deep respect for all life.”
The monarch said the visit had focused on the Jubilee theme, “Pilgrims of Hope”, and used the idea of pilgrimage as a central thread of his message.
He described pilgrimage as journeying forward into the future while also looking back to learn from the past.
King Charles linked this theme to commemorations held earlier this year marking the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day, noting that memories of World War Two are fading as generations pass.
“The end of the Second World War is now remembered by fewer and fewer of us, as the years pass,” he said.
King Charles says different faiths have ‘so much in common’ in Christmas message
“But the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women, and the way communities came together in the face of such great challenge, carry a timeless message for us all.”
The King said those values had shaped both the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and warned against losing sight of them as conflict and division continue both domestically and internationally.
“For instance, it is impossible not to be deeply moved by the ages of the fallen – as the gravestones in our War Cemeteries remind us,” he said, noting that many who died in both World Wars were only 18, 19 or 20 years old.
Turning to the Christmas story, the King highlighted the journeys made by the Holy Family, the Wise Men and the Shepherds, emphasising the importance of companionship, kindness and resilience during times of hardship.
