King Felipe and Queen Letizia Met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain held a meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday. The visit took place at a particularly symbolic moment, just three months before the Pontiff's anticipated visit to Spain, where he has been invited by the King and the Spanish Episcopal Conference. It was the Royal Couple's first meeting with the Pope since he was appointed in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis.

King Felipe greets Pope Leo XIV in the Apostolic Library. Photo: The Spanish Royal Household

The meeting took place as a private audience in the Apostolic Library at the Vatican. The Royal Couple and the Pope held a conversation about the relationship between Spain and the Holy See, as well as preparations for the upcoming papal visit.

Queen Letizia greets Pope Leo XIV as King Felipe looks on. Photo: The Spanish Royal Household

For the occasion, Queen Letizia wore a white dress made of bouclé fabric with long sleeves, a fitted waist and a flared skirt. The Queen is one of the few women entitled to the "privilège du blanc", an exclusive tradition that allows a small number of Catholic queens and princesses to wear white in the presence of the Pope, while other women are required to wear black. As this was a private audience rather than a formal liturgical ceremony, protocol did not require the head to be covered with a mantilla or veil.

King Felipe, Pope Leo XIV and Queen Letizia during the exchange of gifts in the Apostolic Library. Photo: The Spanish Royal Household

To complement the dress, the Queen chose pieces of great sentimental value from her personal jewellery collection, including a pair of earrings by Ansorena, first worn at the baptism of Princess Leonor in January 2006.

Official photo from the visit to the Vatican. Photo: The Spanish Royal Household