King Charles III and Queen Camilla are hopeful that a planned meeting with ailing Pope Francis in early April will go ahead, the palace said Tuesday, fueling optimism that the 88-year-old pontiff is recovering. The couple are due to visit Italy and the Vatican from April 7-10. A palace source said that the king and queen had shared their “hopes and prayers that Pope Francis’ health will enable the visit to go ahead,” and that the king had written privately to Francis when he was hospitalized on Feb. 14 with bronchitis. The pope subsequently developed double pneumonia, necessitating various respiratory therapies, including high-flow oxygen and non-invasive mechanical ventilation. While a discharge date has not been announced, the king and queen’s determination to go ahead with their visit will add to the sense that the pope is recovering after the Vatican released a photo of Francis praying in a hospital chapel this weekend.
