The first image of Pope Francis since he was admitted to the hospital a month ago, has been released by the Vatican.
The photo, released on Sunday, March 16, shows the pontiff sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar at a chapel in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been recovering from pneumonia.
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Earlier on Sunday, in his written Angelus message, the Pope said he faced a “period of trial” as he thanked well-wishers for their prayers, and prayed for peace in “countries wounded by war”.
The Vatican said some days ago that an X-ray had confirmed “improvements” in his condition, but that he still needed hospital treatment.
“The Holy Father still requires hospital medical therapy, motor and respiratory physiotherapy,” it said in a statement on Saturday, adding that they were “showing further, gradual improvements”.
Pope Francis, 88, has not been seen in public since his admission to hospital on 14 February – and until Sunday, no photographs had been released.
