The Vatican has published the first photo of the pontiff for the first time since Pope Francis was hospitalised in mid-February this year. The photo was taken from the back in a home chapel, which was set up next to his hospital room.
Francis, who is 88 years old, is being treated for a severe form of pneumonia. He is in Rome’s Agostino Gemelli hospital.
Pope’s condition is reported to be gradually improving, but discharge is not yet out of the question. He needs to continue therapy while in the hospital.
Since his hospitalisation, Francis has not been seen by anyone except medical staff, close aides, several times he was visited by the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and his deputy. At the very beginning, Francis was visited by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The hospitalisation of the pontiff was reported by the Holy See’s press office on February 14. On February 18, he was found to have the onset of bilateral pneumonia, and on February 22, the Pope needed a blood transfusion. On March 3, Francis was reported to have suffered two attacks of acute respiratory failure. The Vatican said on March 8 that the pontiff’s condition had begun to improve.
