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King Charles and Queen Camilla have postponed their scheduled state visit to the Vatican after medical advice recommended that Pope Francis should have an extended period of rest. Buckingham Palace announced on March 25 that the visit was canceled by mutual agreement due to the Pope's ongoing health issues.
Pope Francis, 88, was discharged from the hospital on March 23 following a severe respiratory illness that began with bronchitis and developed into double pneumonia. He was hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on February 14, and at one point, his condition was critical. The head of his medical team later revealed that he had come close to death.
The royal couple had been set to travel to the Holy See and Italy from April 7 to April 10, with their Vatican meeting scheduled for April 8. This visit would have been historically significant, as King Charles, 76, is the head of the Church of England, and the meeting with Pope Francis was highly anticipated during the 2025 Papal Jubilee, which occurs every 25 years.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace confirmed, "The King and Queen's State Visit to The Holy See has been postponed by mutual agreement, as medical advice has now suggested that Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of rest and recuperation. Their Majesties send The Pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in The Holy See, once he has recovered."
It is understood that King Charles personally wrote to Pope Francis after he was first taken ill, offering his prayers and well wishes. A palace source previously stated, "Their hopes and prayers [were] that Pope Francis' health will enable the visit to go ahead."
Although the Vatican visit has been postponed, the King and Queen will still proceed with their state visit to Italy, though adjustments to the schedule may be made. During their time in Italy, they will visit Rome and Ravenna, engage in high-profile events, and attend a state dinner at the Palazzo Quirinal.
King Charles will also become the first British monarch in history to address a joint session of the Italian Parliament. The visit will further emphasize UK-Italy cooperation, particularly in military collaboration over Ukraine, marked by a joint flypast of the Italian Air Force aerobatic team, Frecce Tricolori, and the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows.
The Pope, who appeared frail during his recent public appearance, will continue his recovery at the Vatican. Doctors have advised that he will need at least two months for full recuperation.
