King Charles's Vatican visit hopes hinge on the Pope's recovery
Reuters reported that King Charles III of the United Kingdom plans to visit Pope Francis at the beginning of April, citing a source at Buckingham Palace. It's important to note that the Holy Father is currently staying at the Gemelli Clinic due to health conditions that are fortunately improving.
According to Reuters, King Charles III hopes to visit Pope Francis during his scheduled trip to the Vatican and Italy in April. The agency cites a source at Buckingham Palace.
In February, the palace announced that Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, would travel to Rome in April to meet with the 88-year-old pope. However, a few days later, Pope Francis was hospitalized with a severe respiratory infection.
Pope Francis still in hospital as King Charles plans visit
On Sunday, the Vatican released the first photo of the pope since his hospital admission on February 14, stating that his condition is gradually improving and that he is using less mechanical ventilation at night to aid breathing.
The British royal couple's three-day visit starts on April 7, and they plan to meet with the pope the next day. According to the palace source, royal officials have expressed their "hope and prayers for the health of Pope Francis so that the visit can take place," a sentiment shared by Charles and Camilla.
The 76-year-old king, who is undergoing cancer treatment, reportedly sent a private letter to the pope when he fell ill. When Charles was still a prince, Charles and his wife, Camilla, met Pope Francis during visits to Rome in 2017 and 2019.
Plans for King Charles's visit to the Apennine Peninsula are already known. The monarch is expected to visit the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, which held special significance for English kings before the split with Rome. The royal couple will also see the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
Charles and Camilla's visit to Italy also included meetings with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. They also addressed both houses of parliament, a first for a British monarch.
Interestingly, the trip coincides with Charles and Camilla's 20th wedding anniversary, which took place on April 9, 2005. Their wedding took place a day after the funeral of Pope John Paul II, which Charles attended as the heir to the throne.
