Buckingham Palace confirmed on Tuesday that Queen Elizabeth II will meet with Pope Francis for the first time during a visit to Rome, scheduled for April 3.
In abrief press release on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will visit Pope Francis on April 3, after being invited by the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, reported the AFP.
This will be the first time the Queen of England will meet with Pope Francis since he became the leader of the Catholic Church in March 2013.
While this is not the first time a British monarch has met with a Pope, in recent years it has been common that the 87-year-old Queen is represented by the heir to the throne, Prince Charles.
During their visit to Rome, the Queen and 92-year-old Prince Philip will attend a private breakfast with President Napolitano before having a private audience with His Holiness Pope Francis in the Vatican, according to Buckingham Palace's press release.
It's worth noting that in recent years, there have not been many visits to other countries by the British monarchs due to their advanced ages, which has meant a greater media presence for Prince Charles.
Queen Elizabeth II previously visited Pope Francis' predecessors in the Vatican: Pious XII, John XIII and John Paul II.
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