King Charles and Queen Camilla to make historic state visit to Holy See

King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to make a historic state visit to the Holy See from 22 October to 23 October 2025.

They will join Pope Leo XIV to celebrate the 2025 Jubilee year. The Jubilee, marked every 25 years, is a special time for the Catholic Church. The state visit will mark the King and Queen’s first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since his election in May 2025.

The visit will be a significant moment in the relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, of which King Charles is Supreme Governor. It will reflect this year’s Jubilee theme of walking together as “Pilgrims of Hope.” King Charles and Pope Leo will pray together in a unique ecumenical service at the Sistine Chapel, followed by a further ecumenical service in the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls, which will include Queen Camilla.

King Charles has agreed to Pope Leo’s suggestion that he become ‘Royal Confrater’ of the Abbey of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. A special seat has been created for the King, which will remain in the Abbey as a perpetual mark of mutual respect between Pope Leo and King Charles as Heads of State.

King Charles and Queen Camilla last visited the Holy See earlier this year, where they had a private meeting with Pope Francis shortly before his death. This meeting took place during King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit to Italy.