Conservation & Heritage Issue 50 Winter 2025/Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 61
State Visit to the Holy See
The King and Queen undertook an historic State Visit to the Holy See. Their Majesties
joined Pope Leo XIV to celebrate the 2025 Jubilee Year, a special time for the Catholic
Church which is traditionally marked every 25 years.
Wednesday 22nd October
The King and Queen were formally welcomed by
representatives of the Holy See.
Their Majesties last visited the Holy See earlier this year,
when they had a private meeting with Pope Francis, shortly
before he died. This meeting took place during The King
and Queen’s State Visit to the Republic of Italy and following
the postponement of the State Visit to the Holy See, which
had been due to take place in April.
His Majesty The King, as Prince of Wales, visited the Holy
See on five occasions: April 1985, April 2005 for the funeral
of Pope John Paul II, April 2009, April 2017 and October
2019 for the Canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
Her Majesty The Queen, as Duchess of Cornwall, joined His
Majesty for the visits in April 2009 and April 2017.
The ceremony began with a ceremonial Guard of Honour
provided by the Swiss Guard and the playing of both the
British and Vatican City national anthems. Their Majesties
were also greeted by a group of Papal Gentlemen and the
Gentleman of the Pope, Prince of Windisch-Gaetz, Mariano
Hugo.
As Prince of Wales, His Majesty was received by Pope
Benedict XVI during the 2009 visit and Pope Francis during
his visits in 2017 and 2019. His Majesty also met Pope John
Paul II in Canterbury in 1982 - the first ever visit to the U.K.
by a reigning Pope.
The Swiss Guards are one of the oldest and most prestigious
European military forces, drawn exclusively from Roman
Catholic Swiss citizens who have completed military
training. They fulfil ceremonial functions and form the
Pope’s bodyguard.
Thursday 23rd October
To begin their State Visit to the Holy See, Their Majesties
passed through St. Peter’s Square to arrive at the San Damaso
Courtyard, the ceremonial entrance to the Apostolic Palace,
where they were greeted by the Regent of the Prefecture of the
Papal Household, Reverend Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza.
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Following this, The King and Queen had a meeting with
Pope Leo XIV. This is the first time Their Majesties have met
Pope Leo since his election in May earlier this year.
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