King Charles III is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican next month. This meeting suggests optimism that the Pope will have recovered from his recent double pneumonia diagnosis and be back at work.

Pope Francis, 88, was hospitalized in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 after his bronchitis worsened. Doctors initially diagnosed a complex respiratory tract infection caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal elements, which later developed into pneumonia in both lungs.

The Vatican announced on Monday that they would be issuing less frequent medical updates, discontinuing the morning updates, as the Pope demonstrates gradual improvement.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that Charles sent a private letter to the Pope when he fell ill.

The King’s visit to the Vatican is seen as a symbolic gesture towards strengthening ties between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, which separated from Rome in the 16th century during the reign of King Henry VIII.

As the head of the Church of England, King Charles has prioritized building bridges between people of all faiths since his accession to the throne in 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The King’s trip will commence on April 7 and span three days. It will include stops in , including Rome, which surrounds Vatican City.

During his time in Rome, King Charles will emphasize the strong relationship between Britain and Italy, both NATO allies, as European nations collaborate to bolster support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

A joint flypast over Rome is planned during the King’s visit, featuring the Italian Air Force’s aerobatic team, Frecce Tricolori, and their Royal Air Force counterparts, the Red Arrows.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend a reception in Ravenna, located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the region’s liberation from Nazi occupation by Allied forces. They will also celebrate local culinary traditions and engage with farmers affected by recent floods in the region.

“The visit to Italy will highlight the depth and breadth of the bilateral relationship,” Buckingham Palace stated.

A key event during the King’s visit to the Vatican will be a historic first: a visit to the Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, a site known for celebrating reconciliation and ecumenical relations between Christian faiths. Choirs from the King’s Chapel Royal, St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, and the Sistine Chapel will perform at this event.

English kings had a special connection to the basilica before the split from Rome during the Protestant Reformation. The basilica was constructed over a white marble sarcophagus believed to be the tomb of St. Paul for approximately 2,000 years.

King Charles’ visit will coincide with the Papal Jubilee, a year of forgiveness and reconciliation observed by the Catholic Church every 25 years.

“The Visit to the Holy See will be an historic visit in the year of the Papal Jubilee and will mark a significant step forward in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England,” Buckingham Palace said.