King Charles Praying That Visit to See Pope Will Go Ahead

18 hours ago 15

March 18, 2025 | 10:39 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Britain's King Charles is still hoping to see Pope Francis during a state visit to the Vatican and Italy next month, a Buckingham Palace source said on Tuesday, more than a month after the pontiff went into hospital.

In February, the palace said Charles and his wife Queen Camilla would travel to Rome in April and the couple would meet the 88-year-old pope, but days later Francis was taken to hospital with a severe respiratory infection.

On Sunday, the Vatican released the first image of the pontiff since his February 14 admission, and said Francis was gradually improving, using less mechanical ventilation at night to help with breathing.

The royals' three-day trip is set to begin on April 7, with the meeting with the pope scheduled for the following day. Royal officials expressed their "hopes and prayers that Pope Francis' health will enable the visit to go ahead", sentiments that Charles and Camilla shared, a palace source said.

Charles, 76, who is himself recovering from cancer, meaning his workload has to be carefully managed, wrote privately to the pope when Francis was taken ill, the source said. The pair met during Charles' visits to Rome in 2017 and 2019 before he became king.

As British monarch, Charles heads the Church of England which split from the Catholic Church in 1534. A palace spokesperson said his trip would symbolise a significant step forward in relations between the two, as well as marking celebrations for 2025 Catholic Holy Year.

Charles is slated to visit the Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, to which English kings had a particular link before the schism from Rome, and the royal couple are also due to visit the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

Charles and Camilla's Italian agenda includes audiences with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and an address to the joint houses of parliament, in a first for a British monarch.

The visit coincides with the 20th wedding anniversary of Charles and Camilla, who married on April 9, 2005. Their nuptials took place the day after the funeral of Pope John Paul II, which Charles attended as then heir to the throne.

REUTERS

Editor's Choice: Pope Francis Strucks with 150 Kg of Letters Daily Since Hospitalization

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News



Pope Francis Strucks with 150 Kg of Letters Daily Since Hospitalization

23 jam lalu

Pope Francis Strucks with 150 Kg of Letters Daily Since Hospitalization

Pope Francis receives "thousands" of letters each day from around the world as he slowly recovers from pneumonia in a hospital in Rome


Vatican Publishes Photos of Pope Francis in Hospital for the First Time

1 hari lalu

Vatican Publishes Photos of Pope Francis in Hospital for the First Time

Vatican, for the first time, has published a number of photos of Pope Francis in the hospital since he was admitted


Pope Francis Says His Body is 'Weak' and is 'Facing Period of Trial'

1 hari lalu

Pope Francis Says His Body is 'Weak' and is 'Facing Period of Trial'

Pope Francis acknowledged on Sunday, March 16, 2025, that his body is in a weakened condition and he is 'facing a period of trial'.


From Hospital, Pope Francis Marks 12th Anniversary

5 hari lalu

From Hospital, Pope Francis Marks 12th Anniversary

Pope Francis was elected by the world's Roman Catholic cardinals on March 13, 2013.


Pope Francis Begins to Recover After Pneumonia Treatment, Vatican Says

6 hari lalu

Pope Francis Begins to Recover After Pneumonia Treatment, Vatican Says

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis has shown significant signs of recovery in his treatment for double pneumonia.


Pope Francis Faces Long, Fraught Fight for Recovery, Doctors Say

10 hari lalu

Pope Francis Faces Long, Fraught Fight for Recovery, Doctors Say

Pope Francis, 88, has been admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital since February 14 with a lung infection.


Pope Francis, in Stable Condition, Sends First Audio Message from Hospital

10 hari lalu

Pope Francis, in Stable Condition, Sends First Audio Message from Hospital

Pope Francis expressed his thanks "from the bottom of my heart" through an audio message from the hospital.


Vatican: Pope Francis in Stable Condition, but Not Out of Danger

11 hari lalu

Vatican: Pope Francis in Stable Condition, but Not Out of Danger

Pope Francis remained in stable condition and carried out some work, spending much of the day in an armchair.


Pope Francis off Ventilation Again After Restful Night, Vatican Says

12 hari lalu

Pope Francis off Ventilation Again After Restful Night, Vatican Says

Pope Francis is reported to have had a peaceful night after two episodes of "acute respiratory insufficiency" on Monday.


Why Has Pope Francis Never Returned Home?

13 hari lalu

Why Has Pope Francis Never Returned Home?

Unlike his predecessors, Pope Francis has never returned to his homeland, Argentina, since assuming office in 2013.


Read Entire Article
Pemilu | Tempo | |