Pope Leo XIV sent his heartfelt condolences to King Charles and the British royal family during the historic funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, held on September 16, 2025, at Westminster Cathedral. This marked the first Catholic funeral service for a member of the British royal family in modern memory. A special message from Pope Leo, 70, was shared at the requiem mass by His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.
The message expressed Pope Leo’s sorrow upon hearing of the Duchess’s passing, extending his prayers to King Charles, the royal family, and especially to her husband, the Duke of Kent, and their children and grandchildren. The Pope’s message read, “I was saddened to learn of the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent, and I send heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayerful closeness, to Your Majesty, the Members of the Royal Family, and especially to her husband, The Duke of Kent, and their children and grandchildren at this time of sorrow.”
Pope Leo also praised the Duchess’s legacy, acknowledging her years of dedicated service to charity work and her role in supporting vulnerable members of society. He wrote, “Entrusting her noble soul to the mercy of our Heavenly Father, I readily associate myself with all those offering thanksgiving to Almighty God for The Duchess’s legacy of Christian goodness, seen in her many years of dedication to official duties, patronage of charities, and devoted care for vulnerable people in society.” He concluded with a blessing, offering his apostolic blessing to all those mourning her loss, emphasizing the hope of resurrection.
Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, passed away on September 4, 2025, at the age of 92, just days before her funeral. She had been a working member of the royal family after marrying Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, in 1961. Katharine is survived by her husband, their three children, and 10 grandchildren. Her dedication to charitable causes, particularly in music education and UNICEF, was widely recognized, and she was fondly remembered for her service and commitment to uplifting others.
Her funeral mass was a momentous occasion, led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, and it was significant not only for the royal family but also for the Catholic Church, as Katharine had converted to Catholicism in 1994. She became the first British royal to publicly convert since King Charles II, who did so on his deathbed in 1685. This was a historic first for the British royal family, marking a change in tradition.
Pope Leo’s message highlighted the Duchess’s legacy, describing her as a woman who lived her life with Christian compassion and dedication to others. Katharine’s funeral was the first of its kind for a royal, and it reflected the important role she played in the royal family and in society at large. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, was elected in May 2025, following the death of Pope Francis. The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, attended Pope Leo’s inauguration mass earlier this year, and Prince William had represented the royal family at Pope Francis’ funeral in April.
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