Royalty meets Priesthood .
_King Charles and Queen Camilla to Meet Pope Francis in Vatican Visit_London, UK –
Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will embark on a state visit to Italy and the Vatican in early April 2025.
During their visit, they will meet with Pope Francis to celebrate the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year, a special celebration that takes place every 25 years.
The King and Queen will join an estimated 32 million pilgrims expected to visit Rome this year, where they will participate in the Jubilee Year celebrations.
The Catholic Jubilee Year, established in the 14th century, is a 12-month period focused on forgiveness and reconciliation.While in Italy, the royal couple will also strengthen ties between the UK and Italy, carrying out engagements in Rome and Ravenna.
This visit marks King Charles’ third meeting with Pope Francis, and their first since Charles ascended to the throne.The King, as the supreme governor of the Church of England, has a deep faith and regularly attends services.
Despite the historical tensions between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, relations between the Vatican and the British monarchy have warmed in recent years.King Charles and Pope Francis share common interests, including environmental protection and interfaith dialogue.
The King has also supported persecuted Christians in the Middle East through his work with a Catholic charity.
The visit is seen as an opportunity for the King and Queen to strengthen diplomatic ties and promote British interests abroad, while also celebrating the special Jubilee Year celebrations with Pope Francis.