London: Pope Leo XIV has expressed his heartfelt condolences following the death of Britain’s Duchess Katharine of Kent, highlighting her enduring “legacy of Christian goodness” and entrusting her soul to God’s mercy. In a telegram sent Tuesday to King Charles at Buckingham Palace, the Holy Father conveyed his closeness to the Royal Family during this time of mourning.
“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,” the Pope wrote. He further reassured the family that he joins all who offer thanks to God for the Duchess’s exemplary life of faith and service.
The Duchess, born Katharine Worsley, became a member of the British Royal Family upon her marriage to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth. In 1994, she made history by converting to Catholicism, becoming the first senior member of the Royal Family to do so openly in more than two centuries. Her faith guided her decades-long dedication to charitable work, patronage of numerous organizations, and compassionate care for vulnerable communities across Britain.
Pope Leo XIV commended her for her many years of official duties, charitable patronage, and devoted care for society’s marginalized, calling her life a shining example of Christian virtue. “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,” he wrote.
The Duchess’s funeral Mass was held on Tuesday at Westminster Cathedral, celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. The ceremony marked a historic moment, as it was the first royal funeral to take place at England and Wales’s principal Catholic church. Pope Leo XIV concluded his message by imparting his apostolic blessing to all who mourn her passing, offering consolation and hope in the promise of the Resurrection.
Her remarkable journey of faith, service, and devotion continues to inspire many, bridging the realms of monarchy and spirituality, and leaving an indelible mark on both the Royal Family and the wider Catholic community.