King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain at the Vatican

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were received by Pope Leo XIV on a visit to the Vatican on March 20th, their first visit after the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV last year.

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King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were received in audience by the Pope Leo XIV in his private library in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. Afterwards, the King took possession as Protocanon of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

Upon their arrival at the Courtyard of San Dámaso, the King and Queen were received by the Vice-Regent of the Papal Household, Edward Daniang Daleng, where the greeting to the picket of the Swiss Guard and the gentlemen of His Holiness, among them the Prince of Windisch-Graetz, took place.

Later, in the access area to the private library, the King and Queen received the greeting of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, with whom they held a private meeting in the library. Following the meeting, the Spanish delegation greeted His Holiness, exchanged gifts, and took the official photograph.

The King and Queen then went to the office of the Secretary of State, where they were received by His Holiness’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, with whom they held a meeting accompanied by the Undersecretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, and the person in charge of Affairs Relating to Spain, Monsignor Renato Kuĉić. After the meeting concluded, there was another exchange of gifts and, afterwards, the Secretary of State greeted the Spanish delegation in the Treaty Room.

Queen Letizia exercised her Privilège du Blanc, the special Papal Privilege that allows certain Catholic Queens and Consorts to wear white in the presence of the Pope.