Monarch recalls Pope Francis with heartfelt condolence message
King Charles and Queen Camilla were granted a papal blessing to mark their 20th wedding anniversary during a private audience with Pope Francis in April. The meeting, which lasted 20 minutes, was seen as a remarkable gesture given the Catholic Church’s traditional stance on remarriage after divorce.
According to Robert Hardman’s updated biography of the King, the couple’s time with Pope Francis included a shared prayer. If confirmed, it may have been the first prayer offered together by a pontiff and a Supreme Governor of the Church of England since Henry VIII severed ties with Rome in 1534. Hardman described the moment as a “post-Henry VIII landmark,” noting that while the late Queen Elizabeth II met four different popes, she never prayed alongside them.
Just 12 days later, Pope Francis passed away. King Charles released a moving message of condolence, praising the late pontiff’s compassion, his dedication to unity within the Christian Church, and his commitment to shared causes across different faiths. The King reflected on his own encounters with Pope Francis, writing:
“The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years, and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.”
Prince William attended the funeral mass on behalf of his father, honouring Pope Francis’s legacy of faith and service.
