Category Archives: Vatican

Royal Family of Spain, Spanish Royals, Vatican

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain to Meet with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

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  • Portrait courtesy of Casa de Su Majestad el Rey
  • Portrait courtesy of Vatican Media

On Friday, the Casa de Su Majestad el Rey announced that Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain will be received in audience by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on March 20th, 2026.

Following the audience, His Majesty the King will formally assume the position of Protocanon of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.  

The honorary title of Protocanon of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is traditionally held by the Kings of Spain, a distinction historically associated with the Crown of Spain’s longstanding patronage of the basilica.

Their Majesties previously met His Holiness on Sunday, May 18th, 2025, following the Holy Mass for the Beginning of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome, commonly referred to as the Mass for the Inauguration of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, celebrated in St. Peter’s Square, when they extended an invitation to His Holiness to visit the Kingdom of Spain.

The Casa de Su Majestad el Rey also announced that His Holiness is scheduled to undertake his first Apostolic Visit to the Kingdom of Spain from June 6th to 12th, 2026. 

The visit will make His Holiness the first Pontiff to travel to the Kingdom of Spain during the reign of King Felipe VI. It will also mark the first papal visit to the country in fifteen years, following the visit of the late Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.

The visit responds to the official invitation of King Felipe VI and the Conferencia Episcopal Española.

Their Majesties’ most recent audience at the Vatican prior to this took place in June 2014, when they were received by the late Pope Francis.

Monaco Princely Family, Vatican

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s Official Visit to the Principality of Monaco: Official Program Released

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  • Photo courtesy of Vatican Media/Palais Princier de Monaco
  • Press image courtesy of le Diocèse de la Principauté de Monaco
  • Communiqué de presse Palais Princier de Monaco
  • Communiqué de presse Palais Princier de Monaco
  • Communiqué de presse Palais Princier de Monaco
  • Communiqué de presse Palais Princier de Monaco
  • Communiqué de presse Palais Princier de Monaco

Following the announcement of the one-day official visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to the Principality of Monaco, on February 25th, the Diocese of Monaco released the official program for the apostolic and pastoral engagements that will take place during the Holy Father’s stay in the Principality.

According to the program, His Holiness will arrive at the Monaco Heliport at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 28th, where he will be welcomed by Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

At 9:25 a.m., an official welcoming ceremony will take place on the Place du Palais in Monaco-Ville, where Monégasques and residents of the Principality are invited to attend.

Following the ceremony, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco will hold a meeting with His Holiness inside the Palais Princier de Monaco.

After the meeting, the Sovereign Prince couple and His Holiness will greet the public from the balcony of the Palais Princier de Monaco overlooking the Place du Palais

His Holiness will then travel to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-Immaculée de Monaco in Monaco-Ville, where he will lead the Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours.

Later in the morning, His Holiness will meet with young people and catechumens at the Église Sainte-Dévote in La Condamine.

His Holiness will conclude his official visit to the Principality by celebrating the Saturday Mass of the Fifth Week of Lent at the Stade Louis II in Fontvieille at 3:30 p.m. Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, along with Hereditary Prince Jacques of Monaco and Princess Gabriella of Monaco, members of the Princely Family, and representatives of the Sovereign Prince’s Government, are confirmed to attend the Mass.

The upcoming visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will mark a historic moment for the Principality of Monaco. While Pope Paul III was received in the Lordship of Monaco in 1538, the March 28th official visit will be the first apostolic visit by a reigning pope to Monaco in the modern era, underscoring the longstanding historical ties between the Holy See and the Grimaldi dynasty.

Monaco Princely Family, Vatican

Pope Leo XIV to Make Historic Official Visit to Monaco on March 28, Hosted by Prince Albert II

  • H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, January 17, 2026. Vatican Media.
  • T.S.H.s Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco/ Michaël Alesi/Palais Princier de Monaco
  • H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, January 17, 2026. Vatican Media.

In Monaco-Ville, the Palais Princier de Monaco announced that Their Serene Highnesses Albert II and Charlene of Monaco will host a one-day official visit from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on Saturday, March 28.

According to the Palais Princier, the visit reflects “the enduring bonds linking the Grimaldi dynasty to the Roman Pontiffs” and the historic diplomatic relationship between the Principality of Monaco and the Holy See.

The invitation was extended by the Sovereign Prince during his meeting with the Holy Father at the Vatican on January 17, 2026, and separately by His Excellency The Most Reverend Dominique-Marie David, Archbishop of Monaco, underscoring both the institutional and pastoral dimensions of the visit.

The Palais Princier further noted that, as a sovereign state in which the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman religion is enshrined in the Constitution, Monaco regards this spiritual heritage as a foundational element of its national identity and institutional continuity.

The visit is described as a historic moment for the Principality and a sign of hope in a spirit of dialogue and peace.

Spanish Royals, Vatican

His Holiness Pope Francis Holds an Audience with Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. (VIDEOS)

On the morning of Monday, June 30, 2014, His Holiness Pope Francis held a private audience inside the papal library at the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican with Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.

According to the Vatican News Agency, during today’s 40-minute meeting discussions focused on, “…social issues, including unemployment, the situation of young people in Spain, and the importance of promoting dialogue and collaboration between the Church and the State for the good of all Spanish society…”

Click here to watch another video news report. 

Click here to view photos.

Vatican

His Holiness Pope Francis Holds an Audience with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan. (VIDEO)


On Monday, April 7, 2014, His Holiness Pope Francis held an audience with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan at the Vatican.

According to Vatican Radio, “…His Majesty had the opportunity to reaffirm the feelings of the people of Jordan who are preparing to welcome the Pope and to more open to collaboration in the commitment to peace and interfaith dialogue.”

British Royals, Vatican

His Holiness Pope Francis Holds an Audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. (VIDEOS)

On Thursday, April 3, 2014, His Holiness Pope Francis held an audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at the Vatican.

According to the Vatican News Agency, today’s meeting with:

“…Pope Francis mark’s the 87-year-old Queen’s fifth encounter with a Roman pontiff here in the Vatican, beginning with Pope Pius XII whom she met in 1951, the year before her accession to the throne.

In 1982, she became the first monarch since the Reformation to welcome a pope to Britain during John Paul II’s pastoral visit to the country and in 2010 she also hosted Pope Benedict XVI on his state visit to the United Kingdom.”

For more information about today’s important meeting please click here and here.

Click here to view photos.