Pope Francis has been hospitalized with double pneumonia for three weeks, his longer absence from the papacy.
Pope Francis has published an audio message, thanking those attending the world for their recovery, their first sign of public life since he was hospitalized three weeks ago.
The short and two -line message was recorded by Francis on Thursday of the Gemelli Hospital in Rome and issued to the faithful who had gathered in Plaça de Sant Pere in the Vatican for the night recitation of the rosary prayer.
« I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the square, I accompany you from here, » said the Pope, gently speaking in his native Spanish and with worked breaths.
“May God bless you and the virgin protect you. Thank you. «
The pilgrims had gathered in St. Peter Square every night from the hospitalization of the 88 -year -old pontiff February 14. Hundreds of people applauded when they heard the message.
On Friday, the Vatican said that the pope had a rest « quiet night » and woke up shortly before 8 a.m.
Francis was initially diagnosed bronchitis, but became pneumonia in the two lungs, requiring continuous evolving treatment and causing alarm worldwide. Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and heal the two lungs, which makes it difficult to breathe.
The pope has not been seen in public since the entrance to the hospital, his longer absence since his papacy as head of the Catholic Church began 12 years ago. Their doctors have not said how long the treatment can last.
The Vatican has been providing updates twice daily about their health, one in the morning and in a nightly medical bulletin. On Thursday, he said that Francis was in « stable » condition for a third consecutive day.
However, « doctors continue to maintain a reserved prognosis, » the Vatican said, as they are not sure how their condition will evolve.
Pope Francis publishes an audio message to thank everyone who has been praying for his health.
The audio clip was issued in Plaça de Sant Pere on Thursday, March 6, as Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime directed the night prayer of the rosary.https://t.co/owgis4dsgx pic.twitter.com/BI7NTAZDRS
– Vatican News (@vaticannews) March 6, 2025
Francis lost the formal celebrations of Ash Wednesday in Rome, marking the start of Lent, the six -week period that reached Easter, but participated in a blessing in his private suite.
During the previous hospitalizations, the Pope had appeared on the hospital balcony for his weekly prayer from Angelus at noon on Sundays. He has lost the last three, but no announcement has yet to be made if he will appear this weekend.
The Vatican confirmed on Thursday that Senior Cardinal Michael Czerny would be in Francis and direct the marking mass on Lent Sunday this weekend.
Francis has experienced several bad health attacks over the last two years and is prone to lung infections because he had pleuresia, an inflammation of the lungs that can cause chest pain, as a young adult and had part of a lung eliminated.
Pope’s health has led to many speculation, especially among his critics, about whether he can decide resign as his predecessor Benedict XVI.
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