Pope Francis Meets King Charles During Italy Visit \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Pope Francis met privately with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Vatican, marking their 20th wedding anniversary during a state visit to Italy. The pope, recently recovered from illness, exchanged warm greetings with the royal couple. King Charles also addressed the Italian Parliament, emphasizing unity, climate action, and support for Ukraine.
Quick Looks
- Pope Francis met privately with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Vatican.
- This was their first meeting since the pope’s recovery from pneumonia.
- The visit coincides with the royal couple’s 20th wedding anniversary.
- Charles addressed Italy’s Parliament, emphasizing unity in wartime Europe.
- He called for stronger UK-Italy ties and warned of climate threats.
- He also met Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni during the four-day visit.
- Charles referenced shared military efforts and joint fighter jet plans.
- His visit underscores UK’s commitment to European partnerships post-Brexit.
Deep Look
In a notable moment of diplomatic and spiritual significance, Pope Francis met privately with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Vatican on Wednesday. The meeting was part of the British royal couple’s four-day state visit to Italy, which also coincided with their 20th wedding anniversary—a symbolic convergence of personal and public milestones.
The Vatican confirmed that the meeting marked Pope Francis’ first formally announced private audience since his recent return to active duties following a serious health scare. The 87-year-old pontiff had been hospitalized for five weeks due to a life-threatening case of double pneumonia, and while his schedule had remained limited, this audience signaled a return to diplomatic engagements at the highest level.
Originally scheduled for an earlier date, the encounter between the pope and King Charles had been postponed due to the pope’s fragile condition. Now in recovery since March 23, Francis welcomed the monarch and queen consort in a quiet yet meaningful setting behind the walls of the Holy See. During their exchange, the pope offered heartfelt congratulations on the couple’s anniversary, while the king expressed his hopes for the pope’s full and swift recovery.
The Vatican meeting served as a centerpiece of King Charles’ first overseas trip of 2025, his first since undergoing hospital treatment linked to ongoing cancer care. Despite his health challenges, Charles appeared energized and fully committed to the diplomatic and symbolic significance of his visit to Italy—an essential European partner for the UK, particularly in the post-Brexit landscape.
Earlier the same day, King Charles delivered a landmark address to a joint session of the Italian Parliament, becoming the first British monarch—and only the fourth foreign leader—to do so. His speech centered on themes of shared heritage, common values, and mutual resilience in the face of global crises, most notably the ongoing war in Ukraine and the existential threat of climate change.
“Peace is never to be taken for granted,” the king declared, highlighting the sobering reality that today’s youth are growing up in a world saturated with images of violence and war—accessible daily on smartphones and tablets. He praised the united stance taken by both the UK and Italy in support of Ukraine, not only militarily but also through humanitarian efforts, including the welcoming of thousands of refugees.
Charles also used the opportunity to spotlight the enduring strength of military cooperation between the two nations under the NATO umbrella. A key announcement came in the form of a joint UK-Italy-Japan fighter jet project, which aims to develop a next-generation combat aircraft while generating thousands of skilled jobs across the participating countries. The king described this initiative as a symbol of the “deep trust” shared among the allies.
Beyond politics and defense, Charles touched on shared cultural and historical bonds stretching back to the Roman Empire and the Renaissance—eras that helped shape both nations. “The threads of our shared story run deep,” he said, underlining the role of culture, education, and tourism in strengthening bilateral relationships.
In a personal and well-received touch, portions of the king’s speech were delivered in fluent Italian, earning warm applause from lawmakers. He joked, “I hope I’m not ruining Dante’s language so much that I’m never invited to Italy again,” showcasing a light-heartedness that resonated with the audience and added charm to the formal occasion.
The royal itinerary also included a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Rome’s Villa Doria Pamphili, a baroque-era palace surrounded by lush gardens. The king and prime minister were seen walking together through the villa’s expansive grounds, a gesture rich in diplomatic symbolism.
Later that evening, the king and queen were guests of honor at a state dinner hosted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace, a formal celebration of their anniversary and a reaffirmation of royal-level friendship between the two nations. The event was attended by dignitaries, cultural figures, and diplomats, serving as both a ceremonial highlight and a reaffirmation of cross-border unity.
In the weeks to come, King Charles is also expected to return to Italy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, once again alongside President Mattarella. The event will highlight shared sacrifices and victories during one of history’s most defining conflicts, offering another opportunity to reinforce historical bonds.
One of the most powerful moments in Charles’ address came when he revisited a speech he gave in Italy over a decade ago, warning then about the rising urgency of climate change. Now, 16 years later, he noted with dismay that many of those warnings have materialized. Extreme weather events, once seen as rare, are now near-annual occurrences. He lamented the continuing loss of biodiversity, with countless plant and animal species at risk of extinction within our lifetimes.
By echoing his longstanding environmental advocacy in this new context, Charles placed the climate crisis at the heart of international dialogue—an issue he has championed since long before he ascended to the throne. His message was clear: international cooperation must extend beyond borders and battlefields to the protection of the planet itself.
This royal visit, while steeped in tradition and ceremonial protocol, carried a contemporary urgency. It underscored the United Kingdom’s strategic intent to renew and reaffirm its ties with European partners, not only through economic and military channels, but also through cultural, humanitarian, and ecological collaboration.
As Pope Francis and King Charles met within the Vatican’s private halls, and as Italy’s parliament echoed with the voice of a British monarch, the day’s events served as a vivid illustration of diplomacy, unity, and shared purpose in an increasingly fractured world.
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