Pope visit added to Prince Charles' trip

ROME, April 3 (UPI) -- The British Embassy in Rome said Friday that Britain's Prince Charles will take time during his upcoming trip to Italy to visit Pope Benedict XVI.

The embassy said in a statement that Charles will meet with the pope on April 27, the same day he is expected to discuss climate change with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, the Italian news agency ANSA said.

The prince of Wales will be accompanied on his April 26-30 trip by his wife Camilla, duchess of Cornwall.

Charles is also scheduled to give a speech to the Chamber of Deputies during his visit, along with holding a meeting with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone the Vatican secretary of State.

ANSA said Charles' scheduled visit with the pope will mark the first time the British royal has had an audience at the Vatican since his 1996 divorce from Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997.