On Wednesday, Pope Francis held a private audience with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Vatican. This made for such a meaningful convening – their first in-person gathering since 2019. Our planning for this meeting unfolded against the backdrop of Pope Francis’s recent health challenges. He is now recovering from an extensive infection that caused double pneumonia.
On February 14, the 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized due to this infection, which was threatening his life. After a 64 day stay, March 23, we left the hospital for the last time. At present, he requires a minimum of two months of recuperation to restore his vitality. His medical history, including lung surgery at the age of 21, has made him more susceptible to infections. Thus, this recovery period is vital to his health.
The royal couple’s visit was originally postponed due to the Pope’s health issues, but they were able to meet for 20 minutes. Pope Francis congratulated King Charles and Queen Camilla on their 20th wedding anniversary. His heartfelt remarks clearly moved the royal couple and the new appointee throughout their intimate gathering.
“A special moment for Their Majesties as they privately met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday. The King and Queen were deeply touched by The Pope’s kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honoured to be able to share their best wishes to him in person,” – Caption
King Charles and Queen Camilla exchanged gifts with Pope Francis, adding to the charm of their meeting. Buckingham Palace even subsequently put out statements announcing their happiness at the meeting.
“Their Majesties were delighted the Pope was well enough to host them for a private meeting and to have had the opportunity to share their best wishes in person,” – Buckingham Palace
In a heartwarming section, King Charles and Queen Camilla wrote to the Pope when he was in the hospital. They aimed their missive straight to his bedside, wishing him speedy convalescence.
“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.” – Buckingham Palace
This encounter represents the deep relationship between the British crown and the Catholic Church. It brings attention, once again, to the importance of compassion and human connection in times of crisis. While Pope Francis recovers from surgery this week, members of the royal family are all “praying for his quick return to full strength.”
