King Carlos and Queen Camila postponed his visit to the Vatican on the advice of Pope Francis’s doctors, who say that the Holy Father needs more rest time after his recent illness.
The British real couple planned to visit the Vatican in early April to celebrate the 2025 jubilee, but announced on Tuesday the postponement of their visit due to the health of Pope Francis. His audience with the Holy Father, now canceled, would have been on April 8.
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The postponement was mutual, according to a communication of March 25 of the Buckingham Palace.
“The state visit of the king and the queen to the Holy See has been postponed by mutual agreement, since medical advice has suggested that Pope Francis would benefit from a prolonged period of rest and recovery,” reads a publication of the royal family in the social network X.
The royal family also shared their good wishes for the recovery of Pope Francis.
“His Majesties send to the Pope his best wishes for his convalescence and hope to visit him at the Holy See once he has recovered,” continues the statement.
Pope Francis, 88, entered the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Friday, February 14 to undergo tests and treatment for bronchitis. More than a month later, he received hospital discharge, making his first public appearance in 38 days last Sunday.
The initial visitaccording to the Palace, was designed to “mark an important step forward in the relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.”
The visit would have included an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel focused on the topic “Creation care”.
As part of the visit, King Carlos also planned to visit the Papal Basilica of San Pablo Extramuros, “with which the English kings had a particular link to the reform,” according to the palace press release.
King Carlos would also have met with British seminarians, while Queen Camila planned to meet with Catholic religious of the International Union of Superior Generals, which highlights the education of girls, access to medical care and the prevention of human trafficking.
The royal couple will continue with the other components of their April state visit to Italy.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.
Kate Quiñones
Kate Quiñones is a Catholic News Agency and Member of College Fix. It has publications on the Wall Street Journal, the Denver Catholic Register and Catholicvote. He graduated from Hillsdale College. Live in Colorado with her husband.