Britain's Queen Elizabeth (L) and her husband Prince Philip (C) present gifts to Pope Francis (R) during their first meeting on April 3, 2014 at the Vatican. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II flew to Rome on April 3 to meet Pope Francis for the first time on a visit that is also the 87-year-old monarch's first foreign trip since 2011.
Stefano RELLANDINI / POOL / AFP
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On 21 April, the world now remembers two iconic global figures — Pope Francis and Queen Elizabeth II — marking a day of reflection and tribute.
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, just one day after making a much-hoped-for appearance on the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica during Easter Sunday Mass.
Despite still recovering from a recent illness, the pontiff delighted the faithful gathered at Saint Peter's Square with a brief but uplifting presence.
The Vatican announced his death in a statement released Monday, marking the end of a papacy defined by humility, social advocacy, and outreach to the marginalized.
Coincidentally, 21 April also marks what would have been the 99th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022. Her reign, the longest in British history, left an indelible mark on both the monarchy and global diplomacy.
Pope Francis and Queen Elizabeth II shared a momentous meeting in April 2014 at the Vatican, commemorating the centenary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See.
During the visit, Queen Elizabeth presented the Pope with a hamper of items from her royal estates, including Balmoral whiskey. In return, Pope Francis gifted the monarch a facsimile of Pope Innocent XI’s order extending the cult of St. Edward the Confessor.
As the world reflects on the lives and legacies of both leaders, 21 April now stands as a symbolic date that honors their commitment to service, tradition, and the greater good.
