King Charles and Queen Camilla, Among the Pope’s Final Visitors, Have “Heavy Hearts”

King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla “were deeply saddened” by the death of Pope Francis in a statement released on Monday morning. The king and queen, who undertook a royal tour to Italy earlier this month, were among the pope’s final visitors at the Vatican. On April 9, as the couple celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary, they had a short meeting with the pope where they shared “best wishes” for his recovery from a bout with double pneumonia.

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The pope had been recovering from his five-week hospitalization since his release on March 23, but he continued to visit with worshippers. On Easter Sunday, he made an appearance on the St. Peter Square balcony following a short meeting with Vice President JD Vance.

In his message, King Charles referenced the pope’s annual Easter remarks, which were delivered Sunday. “Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that his Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his ministry,” the statement continued. “The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.”

The king and queen first met the pontiff when they visited Italy in April 2017, and in 2019, Charles met him again when he visited the Vatican to attend a St. Peter’s Square ceremony canonizing five new saints. However, April’s visit was their first since Charles ascended to the throne and became the head of the Church of England. Pope Francis also met Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their 2014 visit to the Vatican.

On Monday morning, Vance also shared a message about the pope’s death. Vance, who converted to Catholicism six years ago, met with the pope on Sunday morning as a part of a larger visit to the Vatican. “I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” he said on his X (formerly Twitter) account. “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.” He added the link to a homily that Francis shared in 2020, early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vance’s trip began with a Saturday meeting with two of the pope’s top deputies, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher. According to the Vatican, the meeting included “an exchange of opinions” regarding international conflicts and “difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners.”

On Sunday, Vance returned for a 15-minute meeting with Pope Francis in the papal residence, Casa Santa Marta, as Easter Mass took place at St. Paul’s Basilica. In a video released afterward, the pope thanked Vance for his visit through an interpreter. “I know you’ve not been feeling great, but it’s good to see you in better health,” Vance said. “I pray for you every day.”

Following the encounter, Vance met his family for Easter Mass at St. Paul’s, before later boarding a plane to India. Francis went to the balcony over St. Peter’s Square, where his Easter message was read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli. It included a few pointed comments about migrants, which has become one of Vance’s signature issues as a member of the Trump administration.

“How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants,” the pope’s message read. “On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas.”