The upcoming state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican has been postponed due to the Pope's ongoing recovery from double pneumonia.
The much-anticipated state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis has been postponed, Buckingham Palace confirmed. The Royal couple were due to visit Italy from April 7, with a meeting with the pontiff - who has been experiencing health issues - planned. However, the encounter has now been delayed by mutual consent to allow Pope Francis more time to recover from double pneumonia .
Buckingham Palace released a statement saying: '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 the King and Queen's tour of Italy will proceed, albeit with some adjustments to the schedule. Just last week, a palace insider expressed 'our hopes and prayers that Pope Francis's health will enable the visit to go ahead'. The trip to the Vatican and Italy, which was exclusively revealed earlier this year by the Mirror, aimed to mark the papal jubilee and celebrate the ties between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, reports The Mirror. The Pope was discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Sunday after a five-week stay. Despite being released after 38 days of treatment, doctors have advised him to take two months of rest and avoid large gatherings. The Pope appeared weak when he greeted the crowd outside the hospital before his discharge, raising questions about whether he would be able to meet the Royal couple. However, the visit to Italy is still expected to go ahead, and it holds special significance for Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, as it coincides with their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9. During the trip, the King will meet with Italy's President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Royal couple will also attend a black-tie state banquet at the Palazzo Quirinale, hosted by the president. The state visit was announced just over a week before the Pope was admitted to hospital. Since then, Charles has written privately to Francis, likely wishing him a speedy recovery. Charles, who is the supreme governor of the Church of England, last met the Pope in 2019 when he was the Prince of Wales, for the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman. The UK's trip to Italy is packed with significant events, including a joint flypast over Rome by the Italian Air Force's Frecce Tricolori and the RAF's Red Arrows to celebrate defence cooperation between the two countries. In Ravenna, near Bologna, Charles and Camilla will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the province's liberation from Nazi occupation on April 10, 1945, during a reception at the town hall. They will also pay homage to literary culture by visiting Dante's tomb, while the Queen will make a solo visit to the Byron museum. Pope Francis has returned to his residence at Casa Santa Marta for treatment that includes physiotherapy for mobility and respiratory issues, particularly to aid voice recovery, as well as personal prayer time, the Vatican has stated. The Pope has been advised by doctors to have round-the-clock medical assistance, which includes oxygen therapy and emergency care if needed. 'You have continued to pray for me with so much patience and perseverance. Thank you so much. I also pray for you,' the Pope expressed in a post on X on Sunday. The Argentine Pope, who suffers from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed when he was younger, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 following a severe case of bronchitis. He was diagnosed with a complex infection involving bacterial, viral, and fungal elements in the respiratory tract, which led to pneumonia in both lungs. Dr Sergio Alfieri, the medical and surgical chief at Gemelli who led Francis's medical team, confirmed that the Pope is still experiencing difficulties with speech due to damage to his lungs and respiratory muscles
King Charles Queen Camilla Pope Francis Vatican State Visit Double Pneumonia Health Concerns Italy
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