Pope Francis made a surprise public appearance on Sunday, the first time the leader of the Catholic Church has been seen in public since leaving hospital two week ago.

LONDON -- Pope Francis on Sunday made his first public appearance since being discharged from hospital two weeks ago. Francis, 88, entered St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in a wheelchair to briefly greet crowds that were gathered to mark the Jubilee of the Sick and the World of Healthcare. The pope was wearing oxygen nasal cannulas.

Pope Francis, who is recovering from double pneumonia, was spotted in black pants instead of his usual traditional white papal attire

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have left Italy after a four-day state visit, where they had received a warm reception. They ended the trip with a celebration of the country's food, trying their hand at making pasta at a festival in Ravenna.

The Catholic Church starts its busiest week of the year on Sunday with the countdown to Easter, but Pope Francis remains out of public view after surviving double pneumonia and it is unclear whether he will take any part in the celebrations.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have had a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican where he wished them a happy 20th wedding anniversary. In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the King and Queen said they were "delighted the Pope was well enough to host them - and to have had the opportunity to share their best wishes in person".

The Vatican says that Pope Francis and King Charles III have met privately Wednesday at the Vatican during the king’s four-day state visit to Italy.

Pope Francis, who is recovering from life-threatening pneumonia, made an unscheduled visit to St Peter's Basilica Thursday, his second surprise event in two days after previously meeting King Charles III.