UK - Historic show of friendship across the Christian faith aims to restore ties that date back to the 700s. The King and Queen will attend an audience with the Pope next month, in a landmark show of friendship between the Anglican and Catholic churches described as a “historic first”. The King will become the first monarch, and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, to visit the Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls since the Reformation, finally restoring ties which date back to the 700s. The basilica is seen as a place of reconciliation across the Christian faiths, with the King and Queen also attending a “special service” in the Sistine Chapel to build bridges between the Church of England and Roman Catholic Church. Buckingham Palace has confirmed plans for a one-day state visit to the Holy See on April 8, which will be held in conjunction with a second state visit to Italy. Healing the relationships between faiths is one of the King’s key aims.