King Charles III and Queen Camilla will make a state visit to the Vatican in late October 2025 for their first meeting with Pope Leo XIV, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Saturday.
The trip comes just six months after the royal couple met Pope Francis, who died on April 21 following 12 years as head of the Catholic Church. Pope Leo, elected on May 8, is the first pontiff from the United States and has a background in missionary work in Peru.
During the visit, Charles and Camilla will join Leo in events marking the Catholic Church’s Jubilee year, celebrated every 25 years. The palace noted the occasion would highlight the ecumenical efforts between the Church of England and the Catholic Church under the Jubilee theme of “Pilgrims of Hope.”
As head of the Church of England, Charles leads the Anglican Communion, which historically split from Rome during the reign of Henry VIII in the 16th century. Though the separation sparked centuries of conflict, relations in modern times have been notably cordial.
The King’s upcoming visit follows his long history of audiences at the Vatican. As Prince of Wales, Charles met Benedict XVI in 2009 and Pope Francis in 2017 and 2019, while also attending the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005. Earlier this year, Charles’ April audience with Francis was overshadowed by both leaders’ health concerns—Francis’ declining condition and Charles’ brief hospitalization for cancer-related side effects.
What you should know
This will be King Charles III’s first meeting with Pope Leo XIV, a historic encounter symbolizing closer ties between the Anglican and Catholic Churches.
The meeting takes place during the Jubilee year, adding spiritual and diplomatic significance, especially given Charles’ role as head of the Church of England.
