Church Meets State

Ella Bradshaw

Staff Writer

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are planning to visit Pope Francis this spring in Italy to fulfill both political and religious agendas.

In terms of foreign policy, the English monarchs are looking to reinforce bonds between Italy and the United Kingdom in the northern Emilia-Romagna region.

King Charles, who is both the supreme governor of the Church of England and political leader of the United Kingdom, is a faithful member of the Catholic Church. His visit to Rome will mark his third encounter with Pope Francis—and his first as King.

Charles ascended the throne in 2022 after the death of his mother, Queen Elisabeth II.

As a devout Catholic, King Charles is celebrating the Jubilee year, which is a rare celebration in the church community. “Traditionally held once every 25 years, the jubilee is a special year for the Catholic Church, a year of walking together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’” Catholic News Agency said.

Relations between the English monarchy and the Catholic hierarchy have not always been friendly. However, “Despite the turbulent past of the Reformation and King Henry VIII’s break with Rome almost 500 years ago, relations between the Vatican and the British monarchy are today marked by warmth and mutual respect,” according to CNN.

King Charles and Pope Francis not only share a faith but also similar political views. For example, CNN describes how they are both “passionate defenders of the environment and champion the importance of interfaith dialogue – topics that are likely to come up during their meeting.

The King has also expressed support for persecuted Christians in the Middle East through his collaboration with a Catholic charity.” As two leaders of faith, the King and the Pope embody the highest Christian tenant of loving one’s neighbor through their political connection.

This relationship connects to Augustine’s “City of God” in relation to the notion of peace being formed between the Earthly and Heavenly cities. According to Augustine, the Earthly city is inhabited by non-Christians, and the Heavenly city of Christians. However, citizens of the Heavenly city live on earth—so how do we deal with people of different religions coexisting politically and peacefully?

Augustine’s reading proposes that both groups can coexist together, even though their priorities differ in terms of loving God first or the state first. Although both King Charles and Pope Francis are Catholics, their roles in terms of reign show how toleration and charity can lead to peace in terms of diversity of religion in political systems.

Due to recent health scares for Pope Francis, the meeting has been postponed but is still planned to occur. Pope Francis is currently stable, but he was recently discharged from Policlinico A. Gemelli Hospital in Rome after enduring a five-week battle against pneumonia.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin recently asserted that, “I think that for the moment we will only bring to him the most important issues that require a decision from him, so as not to tire him too much,” according to Town & Country. Many people are hoping Pope Francis will continue to recover speedily in order to eventually meet with the English monarchs.