Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, has given King Charles, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, two wooden relics believed to come from the cross that was used to crucify Jesus Christ.

The relics were described in British news reports as a “personal gift” from the pope to the monarch.

At the request of King Charles, as reported in the British press, the two relics have been embedded in a cross that will be used to lead the procession at the King’s May 6 coronation in Westminster Abby in London.

Pope Francis’ gift of these relics to King Charles was first reported in the British press on April 18.

In a report published at midnight, the Telegraph of London said the following:

“The Pope has given the King two fragments from the True Cross—said to have been used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ—to mark his coronation.

“The relic, described as a ‘personal gift’ from Pope Francis to His Majesty, was formally presented to the Royal Household by Vatican representatives at the Chapel Royal at St. James Palace last week.

“In what was hailed a ‘significant ecumenical gesture,’ the King requested that the shards be incorporated into a new processional cross that he commissioned for the Church in Wales to celebrate its centenary before becoming monarch.

“Both fragments are shaped as crosses, one measuring 1 cm and the other 5mm. They have now been set into the large silver cross behind a rose crystal gemstone.

“On the day of his Coronation, the cross will be sued to lead the process into Westminster Abbey, a decision said to reflect the King’s ‘deep and long standing affection for Wales.”

This ceremonial cross that now holds relics from the cross used to crucify Jesus Christ is called the Cross of Wales.

This morning, the Independent reported:

“The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, blessed the Cross of Wales at a church service on Wednesday morning, ahead  of it being brought to London to be carried before the King at the head of the coronation procession next month. …

“The Cross of Wales was a gift from the King to the Church in Wales to celebrate its centenary and upon its return to Wales after the coronation, the cross will be shared between the Anglican and Catholic churches in Wales."

Both Anglican Archbishop Andrew and Roman Catholic Archbishop Mark O’Toole of Cardiff expressed gratititude for the cross and the relics it contains.

The Independent reported:

“Archbishop Andrew said: ‘We are honoured that His Majesty has chosen to mark our centenary with a cross that is both beautiful and symbolic. Its design speaks to our Christian faith, our heritage, our resources and our commitment to sustainability. We are delighted too that its first use will be to guide Their Majesties into Westminster Abbey at the coronation service.”

The Independent also reported that Roman Catholic Archbishop O’Toole said: “With a deep sense of joy we embrace this cross, kindly given by King Charles, and containing a relic of the True Cross, generously gifted by the Holy See. It is not only a sign of the deep Christian roots of our nation but will, I am sure, encourage us all to model our lives on the love given by our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We look forward to honouring it, not only in the various celebrations that are planned, but also in the dignified setting in which it will find a permanent home.”

A paper published by the Royal Collection Trust explains the various roles of the British monarch, including his role as the "Head of the Church of England."

"The sovereign is the 'Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England,' says this explanation. "These titles date back to the reign of King Henry VIII.

King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church and started the Church of England after the pope refused to allow him to divorce Catherine of Aragon--his brother's widow whom he had married--and marry Anne Boleyn.

"After Catherine's 'failure' to produce an heir, Henry became interested in one of Catherine's ladies-in-waiting, Anne Boleyn," explains the website of the Royal Museums Greenwich.

"Henry wanted to marry Anne Boleyn, and believed she could produce an heir, but he was still married to Catherine," says this royal museum's website. "When he discovered that Anne Boleyn was pregnant, Henry arranged to marry her in secret at Whitehall Palace--this marked the beginning  of his break with Rome.

"Henry had asked Pope Clement VII for his marriage with Catherine to be dissolved, but the Pope would not agree," says the website. "When Henry secretly married Anne, he was excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

"In 1534, however, Henry pushed through the Act of Supremacy," says this website of the Royal Museums Greenwich. "The Act made him, and all of his heirs, Supreme Head of the Church of England. This meant that the Pope no longer held religious authority in England, and Henry was free to divorce Catherine."