(Vatican Radio) Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, will visit
the Vatican and meet Pope Francis on Thursday, April 3. A statement from her Press
Secretary states the Queen is coming to Rome in response to a lunch invitation from
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, and she is using the visit to Italy as an “opportunity
to meet Pope Francis for the first time.” Queen Elizabeth II met with Pope Benedict
XVI during his state visit to Great Britain in 2010.
The full statement
from the Press Secretary of Queen Elizabeth is below
The Queen, accompanied
by The Duke of Edinburgh, will visit Rome on 3rd April. Her Majesty and His Royal
Highness are visiting following a private invitation from the President of Italy,
President Napolitano, in 2013. His Holiness the Pope will officially receive HM
for a private Audience.