The king said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the pope's death, while JD Vance, the pontiff’s final international visitor, said he was “happy” to see the “obviously very ill” Francis on Easter Sunday.

King Charles previously met with Pope Francis in 2019, during the canonization ceremony of Cardinal Newman at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. (Cardinal Newman was the first English saint since the Forty Martyrs were canonized in 1970, and the first British saint since St. John Ogilvie in 1976.)

Charles and Camilla paid tribute to Pope Francis for his compassion and tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith.