The Vatican released the first photo of the pope in more than a month on Sunday, showing Francis co-running the mass in the hospital church.
The photo was taken from the back and showed Pope Francis stolen in a wheelchair in front of the altar.
Francis has never seen it publicly since he was admitted to the hospital on February 14 after a bronchitis, making it difficult for him to speak out. Doctors quickly increased the diagnosis of bipneumonia and most pneumonia (bacterial, viral and fungal) infections.
His first three weeks of hospitalization were marked with a roller coaster of setbacks, including a respiratory crisis, mild renal failure and severe cough.
Doctors said this week that the pope is no longer in a serious life-threatening situation, but they continued to stress that his condition remains complicated due to his age, insufficient mobility and loss of lungs in young people.
Nevertheless, as the pope has been on an upward trajectory, they are still making fewer medical announcements. This week’s X-ray test confirmed that the infection is being cleared.
Doctors said in Saturday’s latest medical update that they are working to reduce the pope’s nighttime dependence on non-invasive ventilation masks, which will make his lungs work more.
In his first medical update in three days on Saturday, the Vatican said that despite the stable condition of the pope, he still needed hospitalization and physical and respiratory therapy, which “showed further gradual improvement.”
The Vatican said the next update will not be released until mid-week.
