Before his shocking visit to the Pope Francis, Charles told Italian parliament that peace was “never a given.”
Pope Francis personally met King Charles III and King Camilla in the Vatican when the royal couple visited Italy for four days, and the Vatican announced on their 20th wedding anniversary.
The British royal visit on Wednesday was the Pope’s first known meeting since returning to the Vatican five weeks later in hospital due to life-threatening double pneumonia.
Francis had planned to have an audience with Charles, but his official national visit to the Vatican was postponed due to the health of the Pope.
The Pope issued a new invitation to a civilian audience, which was subject to his health and was confirmed only on Wednesday morning. The mid-afternoon visit lasted about 20 minutes and included a private exchange of gifts.
A Vatican statement said the Pope wanted a happy anniversary to Charles and Camilla, and the King and Queen wanted the Pope to have a quick recovery.
Buckingham Palace said, “Their proud, they were pleased that the Pope had the opportunity to host them and share their best wishes in person.”
The Pope has been recovering in the Vatican since March 23, and made a faithful appearance on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square.
He was pushed into a wheelchair, worn a nasal tube for supplemental oxygen, hoped for a good Sunday for the crowd from the front of the altar, and was greeted by a mass participant before that.
Meanwhile, Charles was traveling abroad for the first time this year after being taken to hospital via side effects related to ongoing cancer treatments.
Earlier on Wednesday, Charles became the first British monarch and fourth foreign leader to deal with a joint session of the British Parliament. In his speech, he emphasized the need for close relations between Italy and Britain, and called for unity to protect common values during the war in Europe.
“Our country was standing by Ukraine at the time she needed, and welcomed thousands of Ukrainians in need of shelter,” he said.
“Our younger generations can see it on the news every day on their smartphones and tablets.
Charles added that Italians and British troops are “lined” as part of the NATO Alliance, adding that the joint plans of the two countries are focusing on Japan’s plans to develop new fighters.
“It creates thousands of jobs in our country and speaks volumes about the trust we place in each other,” he said.
Charles also spoke passionately in his speech about the threats facing the planet, recalling another speech he gave in Italy 16 years ago, and the “warnings” he gave at the time about the urgency of climate challenges “suffling to the event.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Charles held a brief private meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the leader of Italy’s solid government, at the historic Villa Doria Pamphili.
The king was then whisked in Bentley into the neighbourhood of Roman working-class Testacho. There, converted slaughterhouses held cultural events and met with drama students who performed part of Shakespeare’s Othello in Italian.
Dozens of curious residents shattered outside, but almost seemed a plus, like Carlotta, a 70-year-old woman who mostly refused to give her last name.
“I don’t care about the king, but they cleaned the neighborhood for three days, rubbed the pavement and cleared the dog’s poop.
Another woman, 66-year-old Ninetta, said, “Rome saw the emperor. How impressive is the king? I didn’t care much.”
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