The King and Queen of England, Charles and Camilla, will make a state visit to the Vatican in October. The news was announced by Buckingham Palace on its social media accounts.
The announcement said the visit will serve to strengthen ecumenical ties between the Anglican and Catholic Churches. All of this takes place in the midst of the Jubilee of Hope.
This had been the couple’s original plan earlier this year. They wanted to travel to the Vatican and meet with Pope Francis.
Although it was not considered an official visit, they did meet privately with the Pope at Casa Santa Marta on April 9th, on their wedding anniversary.
King Charles III has already been to the Vatican five times, though as Prince of Wales, so this will officially be his first visit as King.
The most recent visit was in 2019, during the canonization of John Henry Newman. It was Pope Leo XIV who recently announced that this English saint will be declared a Doctor of the Church on November 1st.
It is still unclear whether the King and Queen will postpone the trip or extend it in order to be present at the ceremony.
Trans. VL
