King Charles III plans to meet Pope Francis during April 2025 Italy trip
King Charles III is still set to meet Pope Francis during his state visit to Italy in April 2025, despite the pope's recent health challenges. The trip will include important engagements, with the royal couple visiting key landmarks and institutions across Italy.
As King Charles III gets ready for his state visit to Italy, there are hopes that his long-anticipated meeting with Pope Francis will still occur.
The meeting with the 88-year-old pontiff was initially set for April, but uncertainty arose after Pope Francis was hospitalized with a serious respiratory infection in February. Despite this, Buckingham Palace remains hopeful about the pope's recovery and the successful outcome of the royal couple’s visit.
Pope Francis health update and the April 2025 meeting with King Charles III
Despite his health challenges, Pope Francis has shown signs of recovery, according to recent Vatican updates. The pope, who is gradually improving, is using less mechanical ventilation to assist with breathing. Royal sources have expressed their hopes that Pope Francis will be healthy enough to meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their three-day visit, which is set to begin on April 7. A meeting with the pope is scheduled for April 8, with the royal couple hoping for a positive outcome.
King Charles III’s visit to the Vatican: strengthening catholic relations
This visit holds great significance for King Charles, who is the head of the Church of England, an institution that split from the Catholic Church in 1534. The royal trip is seen as an important step forward in improving relations between the two religious institutions. As part of the visit, King Charles plans to tour key Vatican sites, including the Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, a location with historical ties to English royalty before the split from Rome.
Royal couple’s 20th anniversary and key engagements during the Italy Trip
The royal trip will also coincide with King Charles and Queen Camilla’s 20th wedding anniversary, as the couple celebrates their marriage on April 9, 2005. Notably, their wedding took place the day after Pope John Paul II’s funeral, which King Charles attended as the heir to the throne. The royal agenda will also include meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and a historic address to the Italian parliament — the first-ever address by a British monarch.