Prince Edward will represent King Charles at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration mass, Buckingham Palace has announced. The Duke of Edinburgh will join world leaders at the mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18.
King Charles sent a private congratulations to Pope Leo last week, offering his “most sincere good wishes” after the Pope was elected in a two-day conclave. Formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, he is the 267th Pope and the first American to be chosen for the role.
It is typical for the British monarch to send a representative to the inauguration mass. In 2013, when Pope Francis was inaugurated, the Duke of Gloucester represented Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by the Duchess of Gloucester. In 2005, at Pope Benedict XVI’s inauguration, Prince Philip represented the Queen.
Prince William was the last member of the royal family to visit the Vatican to represent the King at Pope Francis’s funeral last month. Just two weeks earlier, King Charles and Queen Camilla had a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta during their State Visit to Italy.
Following his election last Thursday, Pope Leo spoke before crowds at St Peter’s Square in his first Sunday address. He used the moment to issue an appeal for lasting peace in Ukraine and an end to conflict across the world, the Vatican news reported.
The inauguration mass next Sunday will be attended by representatives from around the world. For Pope Francis’s inauguration mass in 2013, around 200,000 members of the public also attended the event.
Town & Country Contributing Editor Victoria Murphy has reported on the British Royal Family since 2010. She has interviewed Prince Harry and has travelled the world covering several royal tours. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America. Victoria authored Town & Country book The Queen: A Life in Pictures, released in 2021.