King Charles III meets Pope Francis: historic visit to Rome!

King Charles III meets Pope Francis: historic visit to Rome!

The British King Charles III. and Queen Camilla will travel to Italy and the Vatican for an important state visit in April 2025. This visit, officially confirmed by Buckingham Palace, is significant as it is Charles' first state visit to the Vatican since his accession to the throne in September 2022. The monarch, who is also the head of the Anglican Church, will receive Pope Francis on the occasion of the Holy Year 2025 celebrations, as oe24 reports.

The Holy Year, which dates back to an idea from the Middle Ages, is celebrated every 25 years by the Roman Catholic Church. In addition to meeting the Pope, the royal couple also plans visits to Rome and the northern Italian city of Ravenna. This trip is described as a celebration of the “strong bilateral relationship between Italy and the United Kingdom”. Charles and Camilla are expected to visit the Italian peninsula for the first time in their reign, following the King's previous numerous trips as Prince of Wales. This highlights the importance of diplomatic relations between the two countries, such as Unione Sarda reported.

Charles has visited the Holy See five times, most recently in 2019, and this upcoming visit is seen as a pivotal event of his term. The couple will also celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9, 2025, making the trip even more special. The exact details of the program will be announced at a later date, including further commitments in Rome and Ravenna.