(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 Thursday 3rd April. Her Majesty and His
Royal Highness are visiting at the invitation of the President of Italy, President
Napolitano.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will visit the Presidential
Palace where they will attend a private lunch hosted by The President.
Following
the private lunch Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will have an Audience with His
Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican.