Charles and Camilla went to visit Pope Francis . A surprise decision after the English royals had cancelled the entire Vatican part of their visit to Italy, given the health conditions of the Pontiff. But yesterday afternoon they decided to pay a private visit to the Pope who is still recovering.
"King Charles and Camilla were delighted" with this meeting, Buckingham Palace said. "Their Majesties were delighted that the Pope was well enough to welcome them and that he was able to personally express his best wishes," the royal spokesman said.
"During the conversation, the Pope had the opportunity to extend his best wishes to Their Majesties on the occasion of the anniversary of their marriage and reciprocated his wishes for a speedy recovery of His Majesty's health," the Vatican press office added.
In the photo of the meeting released this morning by the Vatican press office , the Pontiff appears smiling and without oxygen. The king has a red package in his hand, probably a gift from or for the Pope, while the queen shakes hands with the Pontiff sitting in an armchair.
The movements inside the Vatican were seen around 4:30 p.m. The Royals crossed the Porta del Perugino, the one closest to Casa Santa Marta, the hotel where Pope Francis resides. After entering Vatican City, they entered the hotel from a side door, probably to keep the meeting as private as possible. But inside everything had been prepared for hours, including the gifts for the Royals.
In a very private atmosphere, the meeting took place between two people who have recently gone through serious health problems and who for this reason wished each other well. Pope Francis then wanted to wish the royal couple a happy twentieth wedding anniversary.
No comparison of a more political nature , however, which could take place at another time.
According to what has been learned, the couple was welcomed at Santa Marta by the Regent of the Papal Household, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza.
A cordial meeting, not long, at the end of which the royals left the Vatican by the same door as Perugino.
Charles III is not only the monarch of the United Kingdom but also the head of the Anglican Church. In 2019 he was in the Vatican for the canonization of Cardinal John Henry Newman, the first British person to be proclaimed a saint in over forty years. It was October 13, 2019 and at the end of the ceremony he greeted Pope Francis. The previous meeting had taken place on April 4, 2017, during a visit to the Vatican.
Today, however, the move to Ravenna , the last stop on the British sovereigns' trip to Italy.
(Online Union)
