The meeting, which lasted 20 minutes, took place at Casa Santa Marta, where the Pope is recovering following a recent hospital stay. It was a heartfelt exchange that blended royal celebration with a show of solidarity for the ailing pontiff.

After an official state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla of England to the Vatican was postponed due to Pope Francis’s ongoing recovery from double pneumonia, the pontiff held a private meeting with the royal couple at the Vatican.

The pontiff, 88, is convalescing at home after a hospital stay, and a planned audience with the UK royal couple was earlier postponed.