Pope Franciscus has been heard for the first time since he was admitted to hospital almost three weeks ago for double pneumonia.
In a short audio message with two lines, he thanked 'from the ground of my heart' to benefactors around the world who have offered their support.
The message that was included in the Gemelli hospital in Rome earlier today was played during a nightly prayer service for the Pope on St Peter's Square in the Vatican.
“I thank you from the ground of my heart for your prayers on the square for my health,” said the Pontiff, 88, in his native Spanish, and paused the few words to take a deep breath.
“May God bless you,” he adds.
The audio message came shortly after the Vatican said that the Pope had remained stable on Thursday and had no new episodes of the airways.
In a sign of progress that he continues with the treatment, the Pope doctors said that they would only spend another medical bulletin on Saturday, “given the stability of the clinical image.”
Francis was recorded on February 14 in the Gemelli hospital with a serious airway infection that requires continuous evolving treatment.
In the last detailed medical update about his condition, the Vatican said that the pope had not had a fever and that his blood tests had remained stable.
Pope Franciscus has heard for the first time since he was admitted to hospital almost three weeks ago for double pneumonia (depicted on February 9, 2025)
The audio message came shortly after the Vatican said that the pope (depicted on February 1) had remained stable on Thursday and had no new episodes of the respiratory crisis
Nuns pray for the statue of John Paul II outside the Gemelli University Hospital where Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital
Despite the pause of the daily readings about his condition, the doctors continued to call the prognosis of the Pope 'guarded', which means that he was not yet in danger.
The tone of the Vatican updates has been more cheerful in recent days, according to what was described as two episodes of 'acute respiratory insufficiency' on Monday.
On Thursday, the Vatican said that the pope could have worked between receiving his treatments and resting.
It also said that the Pontiff, which has used a wheelchair in recent years because of knee and back pain, had continued with some physiotherapy to help with mobility, which started for the first time on Wednesday.
Monday's breathing supplys from Francis needed to use non-invasive mechanical ventilation, where a mask is placed over the face to push air into the lungs.
The pope now only receives ventilation at night, the Vatican said. During the day he receives oxygen through a small snake under his nose.
Francis has not been in public since entering the hospital, his longest absence since his papacy started 12 years ago. His doctors did not say how long the treatment could last.
The pope, who is known to work himself to exhaust, continued to work from the hospital. On Thursday, the Vatican announced the appointments of two bishops who would have required his approval.
Pope Franciscus meets Prime Minister Van Slovakia Robert Fico during a private audience in the Vatican on February 14
The Pope currently obtains his 21st day recovering from double pneumonia in the Gemelli hospital of Rome (shown on Tuesday)
The sun undergoes St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on March 5, while Pope Francis is still being admitted to hospital with pneumonia
The pope has also returned to X in recent days, initially with two posts on Sunday 2 March.
The pope thanked benefactors around the world for their prayers in one message, and wanted his best to Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kiev in the midst of continuous unrest.
As he tries to maintain neutrality, the pope has repeatedly called for peace between Ukraine and Russia and tries to achieve a similar balance act before Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.
Last week it was announced that, despite his serious illness, Francis continued his daily contact with Gaza's only Catholic Church through the phone call.
The Pope has experienced various attacks of poor health in the last two years and is susceptible to lung infections because he had pleurisy as a young adult and had removed part of one lung.
Double pneumonia is a serious infection in both lungs that they can inflam and scars, making it difficult to breathe.
Well Wishers around the world continue to pray for the health of the pope, where candles are also lit outside the hospital in Rome.
In the midst of his distressed health, many have speculated that Francis will give up the papacy before it is too late.
Thousands continue to gather every day at St Peter's Square in Rome in the midst of the continuous health struggle of the Pontiff (depicted on Tuesday)
He revealed that he wrote a statement 12 years ago in the event that disease prevents him from performing his duties.
Francis wrote the letter to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the then State Secretary, who holds the second highest position in the Vatican.
Asked if there was a procedure in the event that he should resign, the leader of the Catholic Church once told the Spanish newspaper ABC that he had submitted a provision after his indictment in 2013.
Referring to Cardinal Bertone, he said: “I signed it and said,” If I have to be disabled for medical reasons or whatever, my resignation is here. Here you have it. “
He added that he expected his letter to have been passed on to the successor to Cardinal Bertone, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
'Now someone is coming to Bertone [and say] “Give me that piece of paper!” Said the pope joke during the interview.
In an update on the health of the pope yesterday, the Vatican said that he is now 'stable' and would spend the night on 'non-invasive mechanical ventilation'.
A spokesperson for the holy chair said: “The holy father also remained stable today, without episodes of respiratory insufficiency.
“As planned, he used additional, high-flow oxygenation and non-invasive mechanical ventilation will resume tonight.”
“The Holy Father raised his respiratory and active motor physiotherapy. He spent the day in his armchair.
'Given the complexity of the clinical situation, the prognosis remains monitored.
'This morning, in the private apartment on the 10th floor, the Holy Father participated in the ritual of the blessing of the Holy Axis, which were imposed on him by the Celebrant. He then received the Eucharist.
“Afterwards he was busy with various work activities. In the morning he also called Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza.
“In the afternoon he alternated between peace and work.”
