King Charles is set to meet Pope Francis next month in a "historic first" landmark show of friendship between the Anglican and Catholic churches.
His Majesty will become the first monarch and Supreme Governor of the Church of England to visit the pope at his Papal Basilica St Paul's Outside the Walls since the Reformation.
The meeting is anticipated to be restoring its ties, which dates back to the 700s as the basilica has now become a place of reconciliation across the Christian faiths.
The King and his wife Queen Camilla will also attend a "special service" in the Sistine Chapel to rebuild the bridges between the Roman Catholic Church and Church of England.
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It is hoped that Pope Francis's health will improve so the one day state visit to the Holy See on April 8 can go ahead. It will also be held in conjunction with a second state visit to Italy.
Buckingham Palace spokesperson said it will: "mark a significant step forward in the relationship between the Catholic Church and Church of England".
A palace source told the Daily Mail: "There are hopes and prayers that Pope Francis's health will enable the visit to go ahead," confirming the King has also written to Pope during his recent illness.
Plans created for the Papal Jubilee will build on Charles' previous Papal audiences when he was Prince of Wales. The meeting is hoped to signal a metaphorical "joining hands" between the churches.
During their state visit to Italy, which begins on April 7, the couple will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. The itinerary will include a meeting with Italy's President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as attending a banquet.
Notably, the King will become the first British monarch to address a joint session of Italy's parliament on April 9, the couple's anniversary.
Following this, the King and Queen will visit Ravenna on April 10, exploring the town's culinary delights associated with the slow food movement and visiting key artistic and literary sights, including Dante's tomb, the Byron Museum, and commemorating the 80th anniversary of the town’s liberation from the Nazis.
A palace spokesman added the visit aims to "underscore the depth and breadth of the bilateral relationship," including "our defense relationship in the current international context."
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