The Vatican has released the first photo of Pope Francis since he was taken to the hospital a month ago.
The photo, released on Sunday, March 16, shows the pope sitting in a wheelchair in front of the altar of a church in Gemelli Hospital in Rome, has been recovering from pneumonia.
Earlier on Sunday, the pope said in his written message that he faced a “time of judgment” as he thanked for the prayers of goodwill and prayed for peace in a “nation hurt by war.”
The Vatican said a few days ago that the X-rays have confirmed “improvement” in his condition, but he still needs hospital treatment.
“The Holy Father still needs medical therapy, exercise and respiratory physiotherapy at the hospital,” it said in a statement Saturday.
Pope Francis, 88, has not appeared in public since he was admitted to the hospital on February 14 – until Sunday, photos have not been released.
“I joined the sick with many sick siblings: fragile,” the pope said in his latest statement earlier Sunday.
“Let us continue to pray for peace, especially in countries that are hurt by war: torture Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
Since he arrived at the Jegley Hospital in Rome, the pope has been treated for double pneumonia and other infections.
He also suffered several respiratory crises, which attracted attention to his own survival.
Pope Francis, born in Jorge Mario Bergoglio, contracted pleurisitis at a young age and had partial lung removal, which made him particularly vulnerable to pneumonia.
