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Royal News

King Charles and Pope Leo meet at the Vatican

By
23rd October 2025
King Charles, in a blue suit, shakes hands with Pope Leo who is wearing a red cape.

The King and the Pope have met at the Vatican.

Charles III was welcomed by Leo XIV in an historic meeting at the Holy See.

King Charles, along with Queen Camilla, is making an historic State Visit to the Vatican to mark the Catholic Church’s Jubilee year – one is held every quarter of a century.

Pope Leo, who was elected in May following the death of Pope Francis, shook hands with The King and Queen before exchanging gifts with Their Majesties.

The Pope received a relic of Edward the Confessor. The King and Queen were given scale version of the mosaic of ‘Christ Pantocrator’, in the Norman Cathedral of Cefalù, in Sicily. It was made in the Vatican.

Pope Leo stands in the middle of King Charles and Queen Camilla
Royal Family/ Vatican Media

Earlier, The King and Queen were greeted by Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, Reverend Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza as they arrived at the Vatican. They were driven into San Damaso Square where a guard of honour made up of the Swiss Guard was waiting.

The national anthem was played as King Charles and Queen Camilla stood on the red carpet.

They then went inside the Vatican where the meeting with Pope Leo took place.

The State Visit was postponed from earlier this year after Pope Francis became ill. The late Pontiff did meet The King and Queen when they went to Rome for a State Visit in early April and he blessed them on the occasion of their twentieth wedding anniversary.

Pope Francis died on April 21st 2025 and Prince William travelled to the Vatican, on behalf of The King, to attend his funeral.

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About author

Lydia Starbuck is Editor in Chief at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra.Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024.June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station.June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.