The Argentinian pope is entering his fourth week of convalescence during which doctors have advised him to avoid crowds.

Pope Francis greeted the crowd in St Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, wishing more than 20,000 faithful a good Holy Week. His appearance is a reassuring public sign of his recovery from a life-threatening battle with double pneumonia.

His appearance today was unannounced but not unexpected as Swiss Guards were posted around the square, a sign that the pope would be present at some point.