King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to Vatican postponed amid Pope Francis health fears

Pope makes public appearance after hospital release
GB News
Ed Griffiths

By Ed Griffiths


Published: 25/03/2025

- 17:17

Updated: 25/03/2025

- 19:36

It is understood that the monarch and his wife will still visit Italy

King Charles and Queen Camilla's international visit to the Vatican has been postponed, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

Pope Francis has been medically advised that he would benefit from an extended period of rest and recuperation.


The King and Queen have sent their best wishes to the Pope for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in the Vatican, once he has recovered.

GB News understands that the monarch and his wife will still visit Rome and Ravenna in Italy at the beginning of April.

King Charles and Queen Camilla

King Charles and Queen Camilla's international visit to the holy see has been postponed, Buckingham Palace has confirmed

Getty

Pope Francis was discharged from hospital on Sunday after more than a month of battling double pneumonia.

The hospital stay has been the longest of his 12-year papacy, with many Catholics having feared for his life.

The King and Queen previously planned to attend an audience with Pope Francis and a special service in the Sistine Chapel, however, this has now been postponed.

In Rome, the King is still expected to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella.

The Pope

Pope Francis spent over five weeks in hospital battling a life-threatening bout of pneumonia

PA

Sergio Alfieri, who heads the Pope's medical team, stressed that "the recommendation for a period of convalescence of at least two months is very important."

Dr Alfieri added that recovery would continue at the Pope's home, as "a hospital even if this seems strange, is the worst place to recover because it's where one can contract more infections".

The pontiff was admitted on February 14 with bronchitis, but the condition later developed into double pneumonia.

He also suffered from anaemia and the early stages of kidney failure during his illness.

Pope Francis

The Pope greeted his supporters from a window on Sunday,

Getty

The head of the Catholic Church greeted his supporters from a window on Sunday, waving to crowds in Italy and offering a blessing to his well-wishers gathered below.

He could also be seen waving and making the sign of the cross before he was helped back into the hospital room.

The area around the entrance of the hospital in Rome was busy with people earlier this morning, while more people congregated in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, where they can see the Pope speak on giant TV screens.

The Pope's health is "improving", according to Dr Luca Carbone, one of his medical team.