King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to make a state visit to the Vatican next month to meet Pope Leo XIV for the first time, as announced by Buckingham Palace. This trip, scheduled for late October, follows their previous visit to Pope Francis, shortly before his passing in April.

During this visit, Charles and Camilla will participate in celebrations marking the jubilee year of the Catholic Church, which occurs every 25 years. The palace highlighted the visit’s focus on fostering ecumenical relationships between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, aligning with the jubilee’s theme of “walking together as pilgrims of hope.”

The royal couple’s originally planned visit in April was canceled due to health concerns surrounding Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 shortly thereafter. Following his death, Pope Leo XIV was elected in May and is notable for being the first pope from the United States.

King Charles, who leads the Church of England, has visited the Vatican multiple times and previously met three popes, including Francis. His leadership of the Anglican Church continues to emphasize improved relations with the Catholic Church, which have become more amicable in recent years after centuries of conflict stemming from the church’s historical split during the reign of Henry VIII.



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