The King will write privately to the Pope to pass on his well-wishes after the pontiff was diagnosed with lung cancer, the Press Association understands.
Pope Leo XIV’s condition was confirmed on Tuesday after the Vatican said he had undergone a “successful” planned surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
The 71-year-old pontiff is expected to remain hospitalised for a week to recuperate, with official audiences and public engagements temporarily suspended while doctors monitor his recovery.
King Charles III, who is still undergoing cancer treatment himself, met Pope Leo XIV for the first time earlier last year during a state visit to Vatican City.
The pair made history – marking the first time a reigning British monarch and a pope prayed together in public since the 16th-century Reformation, a moment hailed as a historic milestone in relations between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.
While the contents of the message will remain private, it is expected that Charles’ well-wishes will be particularly heartfelt.
The King was diagnosed with an unspecified cancer following a routine procedure in 2024.
Since, he has advocated for people across the UK to attend cancer screenings, unveiling a new national Screening Checker that allows people to check their eligibility online.
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