Through his Secretary of State, Pope Francis sent his condolences to Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family at the death on April 9 of Prince Philip. The queen and prince were married 73 years.
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Here is the text of his message:
Saddened to learn of the death of your husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, His Holiness Pope Francis offers heartfelt condolences to Your Majesty and the members of the royal family. Recalling Prince Philip’s devotion to his marriage and family, his distinguished record of public service and his commitment to the education and advancement of future generations, His Holiness commends him to the merciful love of Christ our redeemer. Upon you and upon all who grieve his loss in the sure hope of the resurrection, the Holy Father invokes the Lord’s blessings of consolation and peace.
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The popes and the queen
The 94-year-old queen has had warm relations with the popes for some 60 years. She first visited the Vatican as princess during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, a year before her accession to the throne. Her first visit as queen to the Vatican was on 5 May 1961, when she and Prince Philip were received privately by Pope John XXIII.
Queen Elizabeth made history on 17 October 1980, when she became the first British monarch to make a state visit to the Vatican. During her meeting with Pope John Paul II, now a saint, she welcomed the Pope’s plans to visit Great Britain. The two met again on May 28, 1982, at Buckingham Palace in England. The visit was the first by a pope on English soil. Queen Elizabeth met the pope for the third time in the Vatican on October 17, 2000.
Pope Benedict XVI visited Great Britain on 16 September 2010, during which he met the queen in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip met Pope Francis in the Vatican on 3 April 2014, during a state visit to Italy.
Other members of the British royal family have visited the Vatican on various occasions.
And today we celebrate...