April 21, 2025
The Death of Pope Francis - Royal Family Reaction (Bonus)
The Royal Family has paid tribute to Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88, after a lifetime dedicated to “the service of the Church.”
In a heartfelt message issued by Buckingham Palace, His Majesty King Charles III spoke movingly of the late...
The Royal Family has paid tribute to Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88, after a lifetime dedicated to “the service of the Church.”
In a heartfelt message issued by Buckingham Palace, His Majesty King Charles III spoke movingly of the late pontiff’s legacy and his own personal sorrow.
“My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis,” the King said. “Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.
“His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world.
“Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.
“We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.”
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Calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to a special bonus
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episode of Palace Intrigue. I am your host Francis. The
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Royal family has paid tribute to Pope Francis, who has
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died at the age of eighty eight after a lifetime
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dedicated to the service of the church. In a heartfelt
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message issued by Buckingham Palace, his Majesty King Charles the
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Third spoke movingly of the late Pontiff's legacy and his
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own personal sorrow. My wife and I were most deeply
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saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis, the
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King said. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however,
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to know that his Holiness was able to share an
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Easter greeting with the Church and the world he served
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with such devotion throughout his life and ministry. His Holiness
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will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the
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unity of the Church, and for his tireless commitment to
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the common course causes of all people of faith and
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to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others.
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His belief that care for creation is an existential expression
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of faith in God resounded with so many across the world.
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Through his work and care for both people and planet,
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he profoundly touched the lives of so many. The Queen
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and I remember with particular affection our meetings with his
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Holiness over the years, and we were greatly moved to
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have been able to visit him earlier in the month.
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We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to
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the church he served with such resolve, and to the
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countless people around the world who inspired by his life,
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will be mourning the devastating loss of his faithful follower
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of Jesus Christ. Their majesties most recently met Pope Francis
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in Rome just weeks ago during an official visit to Italy.
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At the time, that Pope was recovering from double pneumonia
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and it was unclear whether the meeting would take place. However,
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in what one senior Palace official described as the most
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significant and indeed moving thing of the entire visit, the
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Pope requested to see the King and courting personally. Buckingham
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Palace released a photograph from the encounter, showing Queen Camilla
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warmly shaking the Pontiff's hand while the King stood smiling
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beside her, holding a small red gift box. The image
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was captioned on the royal family's official ex account with
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the Italian phrase kakaziano especially what a special occasion. The
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Palace noted that their majesties were deeply touched by the
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Pope's kind words regarding their twentieth wedding anniversary. The Pope
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wanted personally to wish them the happy anniversary, the official added,
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not least because it hadn't been possible to do the
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state visit on this occasion. The King and Queen's most
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recent visit marked the first private audience between a British
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monarch and the head of the Catholic Church in over
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a decade. The late Queen Elizabeth IID had a personal
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audience with Pope Francis in twenty fourteen during a brief
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stop in Rome. Now attention turns to the Vatican, where
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preparations for the funeral and subsequent conclave are underway. Vatican
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protocol dictates that a period of at least fifteen days
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must pass before car cardinals begin the process of selecting
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a new pope in the assisting chapel. The King, whose
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deep personal admiration for the late pontiff has been well documented,
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said to be considering changes to the royal diary in
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order to attend the funeral. Among the engagements potentially affected
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are the traditional Buckingham Palace garden parties, which typically begin
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at springing on our individuals from across the nation for
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public service. This would not be the first time Charles's
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altered royal plans in the wake of a papal death.
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In two thousand and five, as Prince of Wales, he
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delayed his own wedding to Camilla by twenty four hours
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so that he could attend the funeral Pope John Paul
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the Second. He stood alongside Prime Minister Tony Blair and
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Archbishop Rowan Williams in Saint Peter's Square, a rare moment
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of deference that underscored the gravity of the occasion. A
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senior royal aide at the time noted the Pope's funeral
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must take priority. In Charles, then heir to the throne,
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was reportedly keen to show both respect and sensitivity given
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the complex historical relationship between the Crown and the Vatican.
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That gesture remarkable then may well be repeated. King Charles
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has met with three pontiffs over the years, John Paul
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the Second, Benedict the sixteenth, and Francis, on a total
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of five visits to the Holy See. Queen Elizabeth Second
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also met Pope Francis during her reign in twenty fourteen.
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As head of the Church of England. The King's presence
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at the funeral of the Bishop of Rome would carry
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both diplomatic and symbolic weight. It would also reinforce the
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spirit of interfaith cooperation which Pope Francis champion so ardently
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throughout his pontificate, and which Charles himself has increasingly embraced.
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For now, Buckingham Palace remains in close contact with the Vatican,
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and the adjustments to the Royal calendar will be announced
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in due course. More Palace in just a moment. His
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Majesty had met Pope Francis on several prior occasions, most
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recently in twenty nineteen at the canonization of Cardinal John
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Henry Newman and in twenty seventeen during an official visit
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to Rome was Prince of Wales. His first post divorce
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audience with a pontiff took place in two thousand and nine,
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when He and the then Duchess of Cornwall were received
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by Pope Benedict the sixteenth. While Pope Francis did not
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attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral in twenty twenty two owing to
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ongoing health concerns, he sent a representative Liverpool born Cardinal
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Michael Fitzgerald, who spoke on his behalf. Pope Francis, the
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first Jesuit pope in the first from the Americas, was
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known for his humility, theological openness and concerned for the
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poor and the environment. He led the Catholic Church from
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twenty thirteen until his passing. Gb News Royal correspondent Cameron
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Walker reported Union flags are being lowered two half masted
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above royal residences following the death of Pope Francis. Somber
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music played at today's guard change, and it is likely
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a member of the royal family will attend the funeral.
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Sarah Ferguson shared on social media, praising the late pontiff
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no better example of total humility and kindness and compassion.
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Thank you for leading us not just with words, but
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with your unwavering service to humanity. Any emissions of a
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remember rance by other officials, notably the Wales and Sussex Families.
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Is not any sort of commentary. We're just moving fast
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as we are reacting to a developing story. This script
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was written at ten thirty am on Monday morning. We'll
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be back without regular episode tomorrow and as always, will
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drop a bonus episode if events warrant. I'm Mark Francis
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my thanks to John McDermott. This has been a special
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bonus episode of The Powerless Entry
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