King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to embark on a state visit to the Holy See in late October, Buckingham Palace announced on September 26.
This visit was previously postponed in April due to Pope Francis’s declining health, but the royal couple did manage to have a private audience with him just before his passing.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will join Pope Leo XIV in marking this significant event in the Catholic Church, which occurs every 25 years and focuses on forgiveness and reconciliation.
The visit aims to celebrate the collaborative efforts between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, reflecting the Jubilee year’s theme of “walking together as Pilgrims of Hope”
Possible Visit to the Sistine British media reports suggest the royal couple might visit the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel during their trip.
As Prince of Wales, King Charles has visited the Vatican five times, including meetings with Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
King Charles, as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, has a history of engaging with the Catholic Church.
The Church of England split from Rome in 1534, but in recent years, there has been a notable effort towards ecumenical understanding and cooperation.