The Pope's public appearance brings a 'sense of hope' for supporters outside Gemelli Hospital

A crowd has gathered outside the Gemelli hospital in Rome, where Pope Francis spent more than five weeks recovering from double pneumonia.

The pontiff returned to the Vatican this morning after making his first public appearance since he was admitted on 14 February.

"It's a great day today you know, it gives us so much courage and so much strength", said one nun visiting from Poland.

"I think seeing the Holy Father gave us all a beautiful sense of hope", added a bishop from the United States.