VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis made his first public appearance since being discharged from hospital two weeks ago after treatment for double pneumonia, entering St Peter's Square at the Vatican in a wheelchair on Sunday (April 6) to greet cheering crowds.

Francis, 88, had been out of public view since March 23, when he had given a short greeting before leaving Rome's Gemelli hospital after more than five weeks of treatment in the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.