By Charles Igwe
On a day laden with personal and historical significance, King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid a private visit to Pope Francis on Wednesday afternoon, marking both their 20th wedding anniversary and the fourth anniversary of the death of the King’s father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The meeting was held at Casa Santa Marta within the Vatican, where the Pope has been recovering for over two weeks following his discharge from Gemelli Hospital. Despite his recent convalescence, Pope Francis has gradually resumed private audiences.
A statement from the Holy See Press Office confirmed the encounter, noting that the Pope expressed warm wishes to Their Majesties on the occasion of their wedding anniversary. He also conveyed appreciation for the King’s earlier wishes for his recovery. The exchange of goodwill was especially poignant, given that King Charles himself had been recently hospitalized in late March due to complications related to ongoing cancer treatment.
Though the visit was initially cast in doubt due to the Pope’s fragile health, Buckingham Palace had announced in early March that the Royal couple intended to meet the Pontiff as part of their trip to Italy, which included engagements tied to the Jubilee Year. However, a follow-up note on March 24 indicated that the meeting had been postponed, citing the Pope’s need for rest and recovery. Nevertheless, the long-awaited encounter did take place, allowing the King and Queen to share their greetings in person. A post from the Royal Family’s official X account on Thursday expressed the couple’s gratitude for the Pope’s kind words and the opportunity to offer their good wishes directly.
The papal audience was one of several high-profile events during the British royals’ three-day visit to Rome. King Charles and Queen Camilla also held meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In a historic moment, King Charles became the first British monarch to address Italy’s Houses of Parliament at Montecitorio, delivering remarks that underscored the deepening ties between the United Kingdom and Italy.
King Charles, who serves as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, has long shown a respectful appreciation for Catholic figures and traditions. In 2019, while still Prince of Wales, he penned an article for L’Osservatore Romano to mark the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman. Describing the event as a source of joy for people of all faiths, the then-Prince attended the canonisation ceremony at the Vatican on October 13 of that year and personally greeted Pope Francis afterwards.
