Pope Francis on Thursday shared his first audio message since being hospitalized just about 3 weeks in the past for double pneumonia, expressing because of his well-wishers all over the world.
Francis despatched a brief, two-line recorded message made at Rome’s Gemelli Clinic, which was once performed Thursday night time originally of the rosary in St. Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican.
“I thanks from the ground of my middle in your prayers for my well being from the Sq.,” he stated in a message that was once translated from Spanish to English. “I accompany you from right here. Would possibly God bless you and the Virgin offer protection to you. Thanks.”
The pope has shared written messages by way of the Vatican since being admitted to the medical institution on Feb. 14, however Thursday was once the primary time his voice were heard.
Francis’ situation remained solid and “guarded” Thursday, an afternoon when the pontiff didn’t have problem respiring and remained fever-free.
The pope had a “just right evening” and persevered bodily remedy at Rome’s Gemelli medical institution for his 3rd week of remedy for double pneumonia, the Vatican stated Thursday.
“Lately, the Holy Father devoted himself to a couple paintings actions all the way through the morning and afternoon, alternating leisure and prayer,” the Vatican stated. “Ahead of lunch, he won the Eucharist.”
The following replace on Francis’ situation will come Saturday, the Vatican stated, as a result of his solid situation.

Pope Francis waves from the central loggia of St. Peter’s basilica all the way through the Easter ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message and blessing to the Town and the Global as a part of the Holy Week celebrations, within the Vatican on March 31, 2024. (Tiziana Fabi/Pool/AFP/Getty)
“The evening handed quietly; the Pope remains to be resting,” the Holy See press place of business stated previous Thursday, including that the Pope’s “medical situation has remained solid for the ultimate couple of days, and his medical doctors say he has now not had extra episodes of breathing insufficiency.”
The 88-year-old pope, who has power lung illness and had a part of one lung got rid of as a tender guy, has been solid for 2 days after struggling a couple of respiratory crises on Monday. Medical doctors underlined that his diagnosis remained guarded because of the complicated image.
In contemporary days, he has been napping with a non-invasive mechanical masks to make sure that his lungs increase correctly in a single day and assist his restoration. He has been transitioning to receiving oxygen with a nasal tube all the way through the day.
The pope on Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent via receiving ashes on his brow and via calling the parish priest in Gaza, the Vatican stated. He additionally added bodily remedy to his medical institution regimen of breathing remedy.
The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season with out the pope’s participation. A cardinal took his position main a brief penitential procession between two church buildings at the Aventine Hill and opened an Ash Wednesday sermon ready for the pontiff with phrases of team spirit and thank you.

Women, with ashes on their foreheads, pray all the way through a rosary prayer for Pope Francis’ well being in St. Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (AP Photograph/Alessandra Tarantino)
On Ash Wednesday, observant Catholics obtain an indication of the move in ashes on their foreheads, a gesture that underscores human mortality. It’s an necessary day of fasting and abstinence that alerts the beginning of Christianity’s maximum penitent season, resulting in Easter on April 20.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The pope was once meant to wait a non secular retreat this weekend with the remainder of the Holy See hierarchy. On Tuesday, the Vatican stated the retreat would move forward with out Francis however in “non secular communion” with him. The theme, decided on prior to Francis were given unwell, was once “Hope in everlasting lifestyles.”

Mexican painter Roberto Marquez puts a portray of Pope Francis he made outdoor the Agostino Gemelli medical institution in Rome on Ash Wednesday. (AP Photograph/Gregorio Borgia)
The Related Press contributed to this record.