King Charles and Queen Camilla Postpone Vatican Visit as Pope Francis Recovers

The King and Queen's broader state visit to Italy will proceed, but their meeting with Pope Francis has been delayed to allow the pontiff additional recovery time following his hospitalization.

Pope Francis, 88, recently returned to the Vatican after a five-week hospital stay for double pneumonia and is under medical orders to avoid large gatherings during two months of convalescence.
The planned Vatican visit, which would have been King Charles's first meeting with the Pope as monarch, was postponed by mutual agreement to prioritize the pontiff's recovery.
The King and Queen's state visit to Italy, scheduled for early April, remains on track with engagements including meetings with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella.
King Charles is set to become the first British monarch to address the Italian Parliament during the upcoming visit, a historic milestone in UK-Italy relations.
The Vatican visit was intended to celebrate the papal jubilee and strengthen ties between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, with plans to reschedule once the Pope has recuperated.