THE KING and Queen’s state visit to the Vatican has been postponed as the Pope requires an “extended period of rest and recuperation”.
Buckingham Palace made the announcement just two days after Pope Francis left hospital following his life-threatening pneumonia battle.
The royals had been due to visit Francis in the Holy See in just under two weeks’ time.
Buckingham Palace said it was a mutual agreement to put the tour on hold following medical advice that suggested the pontiff would benefit from extra time to recuperate.
While their Italy tour will still continue, there will be some changes to King Charles and Queen Camilla’s programme.
Pope Francis left hospital on Sunday, returning to the Vatican after surviving a terrifying life-threatening bout of pneumonia.
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Buckingham Palace said: “The King and Queen’s State Visit to The Holy See has been postponed by mutual agreement, as medical advice has now suggested that Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of rest and recuperation.
“Their Majesties send The Pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in The Holy See, once he has recovered.”
This comes after the Palace said last week its trip to the Vatican would go ahead despite the Pope’s continued illness.
The visit to the Vatican and Italy from April 7-10 was set to celebrate the papal jubilee and the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.
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Pope Francis was seen for the first time in public since his hospitalisation last month on Sunday as he waved to followers from a hospital window.
The Holy Father appeared briefly behind a glass balcony on the fifth floor at Gemelli University Hospital in Rome where he greeted and blessed a waiting crowd.
He looked sickly as he sat in a wheelchair but he made the appearance without the assistance of oxygen.
Francis blessed the crowd, thanked them for coming to speak to him, and pointed out a woman who had brought yellow flowers to wish him well.
Speaking briefly and weakly, he said: “Thank you, everyone… I see this woman with the yellow flowers. Brava!”
He gave a weak sign of the cross before being wheeled back inside.
POPE HAD BEEN ‘IN DANGER OF LOSING HIS LIFE’
It comes as the Pontiff, 88, now has to relearn how to speak again following his serious health battle which left him “in danger of losing his life”, according to his doctors.
The Pope had been admitted to hospital on February 14, and suffered from numerous health problems during his time at the care centre.
These included kidney failure and numerous respiratory crises.
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Gemelli medical director Doctor Sergio Alfieri said last week, when announcing the Pope’s discharge, that he would need at least two months of rest and rehabilitation during his recovery.
On Friday, the Vatican issued an update saying he was stable and showing “minor improvements in breathing and mobility”.
