Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie, accompanied by their two sons, Princes Charles and François, were received by Pope Leo XIV for an audience at the Vatican on Friday morning.
During a courtesy visit to the Vatican, their first since taking up their official roles in October, the Grand Ducal couple also met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, considered the Pope’s chief diplomat.
Arrival of the Grand Ducal family at the Vatican arriving at the Apostolic Palace, the Pope’s official residence. © Photo credit: Getty Images
According to the court, the trip to the Vatican is the fourth courtesy visit abroad by the new Grand Ducal couple, who have previously travelled to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
The Grand Ducal family has traditionally maintained close relations with the Vatican. As a Catholic monarch, Stéphanie, like her mother-in-law Maria Teresa before her, is permitted to wear white instead of the traditional black for audiences with the Pope.
(This article was originally published by the Luxemburger Wort. Translation and editing by Kabir Agarwal).
