The state visit, now scheduled for late October, will mark King Charles and Queen Camilla’s first formal audience with Pope Leo XIV, who was elected in May following the passing of Pope Francis. It will be a significant diplomatic and spiritual occasion, highlighting not only the strong ties between the United Kingdom and the Vatican, but also the monarch’s own longstanding personal interest in interfaith dialogue and religious cooperation.

The palace said that during the trip, Charles and Camilla will join the pontiff in celebrating the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year — a rare and deeply symbolic year that takes place only once every 25 years and focuses on themes of reconciliation, forgiveness, and renewal. This year’s Jubilee carries the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope,” and organizers have described it as an invitation for believers around the world to walk together toward peace and unity.

“The visit will also celebrate the ongoing ecumenical work between the Church of England and the Catholic Church,” the statement read, emphasizing that Charles and Camilla’s presence in Rome would represent the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect that has grown between the two churches since the dark days of the Reformation.

The royal couple had initially been due to travel to the Vatican during their state visit to Italy in April, but the plan was set aside due to concerns over Pope Francis’ fragile health at the time. Instead, Charles and Camilla carried on with engagements across Rome and Ravenna, before making a private visit to the pope on April 9 — a meeting that turned out to be poignant and historic.

That private audience took place on the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary and was arranged with little notice, given Francis’ condition. Palace officials said the late pontiff was determined to see the King and Queen in person to offer his blessings and personally wish them a happy anniversary. Just two weeks later, Pope Francis passed away from a stroke and heart failure, making that meeting one of his final audiences.

King Charles, now 76, serves as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a position that dates back nearly five centuries to the reign of Henry VIII, who famously broke from Rome and created the Anglican Church. Despite this turbulent chapter in history, relations between the monarchy and the papacy have warmed significantly over the past several decades. The United Kingdom and the Holy See have maintained full diplomatic ties since 1982, and visits between British sovereigns and popes have become occasions of mutual goodwill and symbolism.

As Prince of Wales, Charles made five visits to the Vatican, where he engaged in dialogue on topics ranging from religious freedom to environmental stewardship — an issue close to his heart. He notably attended the 2019 canonization of Saint John Henry Newman, a 19th-century Anglican priest who converted to Catholicism and became one of the most influential theologians of his era. On that occasion, Charles wrote an article praising Newman’s intellectual legacy and expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his leadership on climate and ecological issues.

This October’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV will open a new chapter in those relations. Born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955, Leo is the first American pope in history and spent much of his career in Peru as a missionary before rising through the church hierarchy to lead the Vatican’s influential Dicastery for Bishops. Since his election as the 267th pontiff, he has emphasized themes of peace, social justice, and unity, calling on world leaders to bridge divides and work toward ending conflicts.

Following Leo’s election, King Charles sent a private message congratulating him and expressing hope for continued cooperation on issues ranging from climate change to humanitarian crises.

For Charles, the visit will not only be a diplomatic milestone but a deeply personal one — a chance to continue his lifelong commitment to fostering understanding between different faith traditions.