'Frail' Pope Francis' 'final gesture' to King Charles and Queen Camilla before his death
May have been the most significant moment for nearly 500 years
The late Pope Francis reportedly gave King Charles and Queen Camilla a “landmark” blessing when receiving them shortly before his death.
The Vatican confirmed Pope Francis died on Easter Monday in April, aged 88. He had spent five weeks in hospital shortly before he died. He had battled pneumonia in both lungs.
However, despite clearly being so frail, Pope Francis gave the king and queen an audience during their state visit to Italy. And, according to new claims, the meeting may have been the most significant between the head of the Roman Catholic Church and an English king – even predating the line of British monarchs – for nearly 500 years.
What happened when Pope Francis met King Charles and Queen Camilla?
In Robert Hardman’s revised Charles III biography, he reportedly suggests King Charles and Queen Camilla received a blessing from Pope Francis. It marked their 20th wedding anniversary.
The royal couple reportedly met the then-Pope for 20 minutes. They allegedly came in for the honour despite both King Charles and Queen Camilla having been previously divorced.
The Roman Catholic position on second marriages is that they are not recognised while ex spouses are still alive. And so, as the queen’s former husband Andrew Parker Bowles is still living, the blessing represents a break from tradition.
Furthermore, the Telegraph reports, the meeting between King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Pope Francis could have implications for the relationship between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.
A ‘landmark’ meeting
That’s because, if King Charles and Pope Francis prayed together, it might prove a unique moment going back to 1534.
It is believed this may not have occurred between the head of the Church of England and a Pope since Henry VIII broke with the authority of the Roman Catholic Church with the Act of Supremacy.
Mr Hardman speculated: “It might have been a short prayer, with the frail Pope in his chair and the king, alongside the queen, on his feet. But it was a post-Henry VIII landmark.”
It was a post-Henry VIII landmark.
He also noted the late Queen Elizabeth II didn’t pray alongside any of the four pontiffs she met during her reign.
‘A special moment’
At the time of Charles and Camilla’s meeting with the Pope, the royal family’s official Instagram account posted. The message read: “A special moment for Their Majesties as they privately met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday.
“The king and queen were deeply touched by the Pope’s kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary.”
Following Pope Francis’ death, King Charles paid a lengthy tribute.
The monarch said both he and his wife had “heavy hearts” over the news.
He hailed Pope Francis at the time: “His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world.
“Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.”
The king said he and his wife felt “greatly moved” to have visited the Pope before his death.
Read more: Prince Harry and King Charles ‘determined to meet face to face’ when duke returns to UK
Royal Insider has contacted reps for Buckingham Palace for comment.
What do you think of this story? Let us know by commenting on our Royal Insider Facebook page.
