London, October 17, 2025
— The British royal family has announced that King Charles III and Queen
Camilla will undertake a historic state visit to the Holy See from October
22 to 23, 2025, marking their first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since
his election earlier this year.
“The King and Queen will undertake an historic state
visit to the Holy See from October 22 to 23, 2025. The visit will mark Their
Majesties’ first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since his election in May 2025,” the
palace said in a statement.
The trip comes six months after the royal couple’s
private meeting with Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21
after 12 years as head of the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV, 70, a former
missionary in Peru and the first American-born pope, succeeded him
following a conclave on May 8.
During the two-day visit, Charles and Camilla will
join the pontiff in activities marking the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year,
celebrated every 25 years. The itinerary includes a service in the Sistine
Chapel highlighting the king and pope’s shared commitment to environmental
protection and care for creation.
King Charles is also expected to visit a seminary
training priests from across the Commonwealth, while Queen Camilla will
meet members of a Catholic women’s body dedicated to girls’ education and
combating gender-based challenges such as sexual violence, trafficking, and
limited healthcare access.
Buckingham Palace described the visit as “a
significant moment” in relations between the Catholic Church and the Church
of England, reflecting ongoing efforts toward Christian unity under the
Jubilee’s theme, “Pilgrims of Hope.”
As Supreme Governor of the Church of England,
Charles’s visit underscores the continued warming of ties between Anglicans and
Catholics — a relationship once defined by centuries of division following King
Henry VIII’s 16th-century break from Rome.
Despite undergoing treatment for an undisclosed
cancer, King Charles remains active in his royal duties. He previously met
three popes during his tenure as Prince of Wales and most recently met Pope
Francis in Rome last April.
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