The Holy See, the body responsible for the Catholic Church, released a new photograph showing the Pope attending Mass in the chapel of his room at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
The Pope was photographed for the first time since his hospitalization nearly a month ago.
The Holy See has released a photo of the 88-year-old elderly leader of the Catholic Church sitting in a chair during Mass at his Rome hospital. The image, released by the Holy See press office, shows Francis celebrating Sunday Mass in the chapel of his room on the 10th floor of the Gemelli Hospital.
The pope has been in the hospital since February 14, battling double pneumonia. His condition is now stable, but he continues to undergo respiratory and mobility therapy; it is unclear when he will be discharged from the hospital. The photo comes after a statement released by the Holy See in which the pope thanked people for their prayers and noted that he faces a “testing period.”
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In a statement on Saturday, he said: “I join the many brothers and sisters who are suffering from illness: at this moment they are as vulnerable as I am. Let us continue to pray for peace, especially in countries affected by conflict: the tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
For the fifth Sunday in a row, the pope was unable to attend his regular blessing in person after the Vatican said X-rays showed “improvements” in his condition. Although he cautioned that he still needed treatment, the Vatican said in a separate statement that his therapy was showing “gradual improvements.”
The Vatican said: “The Holy Father continues to require hospital medical therapy, as well as movement and respiratory physiotherapy; these treatments are now showing further gradual improvement.” The pope is reducing the use of mechanical ventilation at night to help him breathe, the statement said.
Earlier this week, doctors stressed that the Pope's condition was complicated by his age, lack of mobility and the loss of part of a lung when he was young. The picture and positive changes followed several setbacks in February and early March that made international news.
He survived several respiratory crises, mild kidney failure and a severe coughing fit early on. However, this could not dampen the spirit of the head of the Catholic Church, as he continued to carry out his duties during his hospitalization. While in Gemelli, he approved a process that lays the groundwork for reforms aimed at making the Roman Catholic Church more open and responsive.
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