Britain's King Charles makes surprised visit to the Pope

10/4/2025 6:15

Pope Francis had a

previously unannounced meeting at the Vatican on Wednesday

afternoon with Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla, during

their state visit to Italy, Buckingham Palace and the Vatican

announced.



Charles and Camilla had been due to make a formal state

visit to the Vatican, but postponed their plans after doctors

prescribed Francis two months of rest after the pontiff

experienced a serious bout of double pneumonia.



The pope met the royal couple privately and offered his best

wishes for their 20th wedding anniversary, which they celebrated

on Wednesday, said a Vatican statement.



Buckingham Palace said Charles and Camilla "were delighted

The Pope was well enough to host them - and to have had the

opportunity to share their best wishes in person."



As British monarch, Charles heads the Church of England,

which split from the Catholic Church in 1534.



Francis and Charles have met twice previously in 2017 and

2019, before Charles became king. The late Queen Elizabeth II

visited Francis at the Vatican in 2014.