King Charles III is set to continue with his scheduled state visit to the Vatican in early April, despite Pope Francis’s ongoing hospitalization for pneumonia, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the palace’s itinerary, Charles—who serves as the head of the Church of England—is expected to meet the pope on April 8. A Buckingham Palace source shared that they are keeping “our hopes and prayers that Pope Francis’s health will enable the visit to go ahead.”
Royal Visit Amid Pope’s Health Concerns
The British monarch reportedly sent a personal letter to Pope Francis, 88, after the pontiff was hospitalized with pneumonia in both lungs. Francis has been receiving treatment at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for over a month.
Charles will be accompanied by Queen Camilla during his April 7 to April 10 visit to Italy and the Holy See, marking his first visit to both as king.
Meetings with Italian Leaders and Historic Address
Following his Vatican engagement, King Charles III is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella.
He will also make history by becoming the first British monarch to address a sitting of the Italian parliament, according to Buckingham Palace.
The king previously visited the Vatican in 2019, when he also met Pope Francis.
Despite revealing in February 2024 that he was undergoing treatment for cancer, the 76-year-old sovereign has resumed traveling abroad since October.
