King Charles III is scheduled to have an audience with Pope Francis during a state visit next month to the Vatican, suggesting the Holy See is optimistic the pontiff will be back at work by then, barring any setbacks in his recovery from double pneumonia.

The visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom to the Vatican next month will include an audience with Pope Francis, suggesting the pope's health is improving.

The palace shared news about King Charles and Queen Camilla's upcoming visit to Italy and the Vatican amid Pope Francis' health concerns.

The Vatican has released the first photograph of the pope in more than a month, showing Pope Francis wearing a purple Lenten liturgical vestments sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar in the hospital chapel.

The Vatican on Sunday released the first image of Pope Francis since mid-February when he was taken to the hospital where he remains, recovering from a severe respiratory illness.