Secret Exposed! Cardinal Tagle Reveals the Reason Pope Leo XIV Refused to Shake Princess Kate’s Hand: “I Am Deeply Saddened to Say That…”
In a dramatic turn of events that has shocked the world and sparked intense speculation across social and religious circles, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has finally spoken out about the controversial moment when Pope Leo XIV refused to shake hands with Princess Kate Middleton during her high-profile visit to the Vatican last month.
The moment, captured on video and widely circulated online, showed the Princess of Wales extending her hand in greeting, only for Pope Leo XIV to bow slightly and clasp his hands together — refusing the traditional handshake. The awkward silence that followed left royal watchers stunned and sparked a flurry of theories ranging from health concerns to political tension.
But now, Cardinal Tagle — one of the Vatican’s most senior and respected figures — has broken his silence.
“I am deeply saddened to say that this was not a misunderstanding,” Tagle revealed during a closed-door clergy retreat, excerpts of which were leaked to Italian media outlets. “There were concerns raised internally regarding her presence at the meeting.”
🙏 A Diplomatic Snub?
According to sources close to the Vatican, the Pope’s hesitation allegedly stemmed from ongoing internal debates over the British monarchy’s stance on certain humanitarian and ethical issues, including immigration policy and the royal family’s silence on recent humanitarian crises.
“It was not personal,” Tagle reportedly added. “But His Holiness felt it necessary to make a silent gesture — not out of hostility, but as a quiet call for reflection.”
However, others in the Vatican reportedly disagreed with the decision, warning that the gesture might be misinterpreted as disrespectful or even scandalous.
