King Charles and Queen Camilla meet Pope Francis

King Charles and Queen Camilla meet Pope Francis

In April 2025, King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to Italy and to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis. On the occasion of a special anniversary year, which is celebrated every 25 years, the two British monarchs will take part in the pilgrimage current of 32 million people who are visiting the "Eternal City" this year. The Catholic anniversary year was introduced by Pope Bonifatius VIII in the 14th century and is devoted to forgiveness and reconciliation for 12 months.

The anniversary year and the pilgrimage

The pilgrims are invited to walk through one of the "holy doors" in the four large basilicas of Rome. Pope Francis put this anniversary under the motto "Hope", which he particularly emphasized when he opened the first "holy door" in a prison.

The state visits of King Charles and Queen Camilla

"Your majesties, the king and the queen, will take state visits to the Holy Stuhl and in the Republic of Italy at the beginning of April 2025," said Buckingham Palace on Thursday. "During her state visit to the Holy Stuhl, the king and the queen will celebrate the anniversary year 2025 together with his holiness Pope Francis." During their stay, Charles and Camilla will also strengthen the relationships between Italy and the United Kingdom and appoint appointments in Rome as well as in Northern Italian Ravenna.

historical meetings between King Charles and Pope Francis

King Charles, who is known as the top governor of the Church of England, is deep -faith and regularly visits services. He has already met Pope Francis several times. This will be the third meeting of the two, but the first one since Charles'. It will also be the second time that Francis hits a British monarch; Previously, he received Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in the Vatican in 2014.

The relationships between the Vatican and the British monarchy

Despite the turbulent past, which is characterized by the Reformation and the separation of King Henry VIII of Rome, the relationship between the Vatican and the British monarchy is now characterized by warmth and mutual respect. The United Kingdom and the Holy Stuhl have been maintaining complete diplomatic relationships since 1982.

common concerns of King Charles and Pope Francis

King Charles and Pope Francis are passionate about environmental protection and emphasize the importance of interreligious dialogue - topics that are expected to be discussed during their meeting. The king has also expressed his support for persecuted Christians in the Middle East through cooperation with a Catholic charity.

gifts and personal encounters

The relationships were also strengthened by the king's interest in religious faith and his respect for the Catholic Church. The Pope had given Charles relics of the true cross on his crowning glory. These wood splinters come from the cross on which Christ was crucified, and were integrated into a new procession cross, which was specially made for the magnificent ceremony in 2023 and was then given to the church of Wales. Charles' crowning glory was visited by two cardinals, one of them was a personal representative of the Pope - for the first time in almost half a century that Catholic prelates were involved in a British coronation.

former visits by King Charles in the Vatican

As Prince of Wales, Charles visited the Vatican five times. For example, in 2019 he was on St. Peter's Square for the canonization of Saint John Henry Newman, an influential theologian who converted to Catholicism after years as an Anglican priest. At that time the King Newman praised in an article and thanked the Pope for his efforts to protect the environment.

expectations of the upcoming meeting

Pope Francis sees this meeting an opportunity to deepen relationships with King Charles. The Pope had already encouraged Charles to be a "man of peace" in 2017, whereupon the future king replied: "I will do my best." But the path to the encounter was not always easy. In 2005, the then Prince of Wales had to move his wedding with Camilla Parker-Bowles, as she coincided with the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

a special anniversary

Although the exact dates for the upcoming trip to Italy have not yet been announced by the king and queen, there is already speculation that the visit with their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9 could collapse. Charles' previous visits took place in 2009 and 1985.

gifts between King Charles and Pope Francis

At the end of their meeting, it is expected that Francis and Charles exchange gifts. At an earlier meeting with Queen Elizabeth II. The engraved on the basis: "Pope Francis, for his royal sovereignty Prince George von Cambridge." In return, the queen gave the Pope a basket with products from the royal lands.

In 2017, Pope Charles presented a copy of his encyclical about climate change, other papal writings and a bronze olive branch that is supposed to symbolize peace. During this visit, Charles also had a gift basket with products from Highgrove, which he presented to the Pope with the words: "That could be useful."