The Vatican released the first photo of Pope Francis in a month, showing him in a wheelchair at a hospital chapel. Doctors report his condition is improving.
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The Vatican released on Sunday the first photograph of Pope Francis in a month, showing the pontiff in a view from behind wearing a purple stole – typical of Lenten liturgical vestments – and sitting in a wheelchair before an altar at the hospital chapel.
The Vatican said he was participating in the celebration of the Mass with other priests from the Gemelli hospital in Rome.
This is the first mention the Vatican has made of the pontiff’s participation in celebrating Mass since his 14 February hospitalisation. Pope Francis was rushed to hospital after a week-long bout with chronic bronchitis turned into double pneumonia.
There was no obvious sign that he was receiving supplemental oxygen, mentioned in medical bulletins.
Doctors this week announced that the pontiff was no longer in critical condition, but have continued to emphasise that his condition remained complex due to several factors. They cited Pope Francis’ age, lack of mobility and the loss of part of a lung as a young man, as potential reasons for concern, warranting constant monitoring.
In an audio recording released last week, the pope spoke in a feeble and laboured voice as he thanked the faithful in St Peter’s square for their prayers and recovery wishes.
His condition has been on the rise lately, gradually improving over the last week, prompting the Vatican to suspend morning updates and issue less frequent medical bulletins. An X-ray this week confirmed that his respiratory infection was clearing.
In the most recent bulletin on Saturday, doctors said they were working to reduce the pope’s reliance on a non-invasive ventilation mask at night, in hopes of getting his lungs to work more. He was still continuing to receive high-flow supplemental oxygen, delivered by a nasal tube during the day.
Supporters dance the tango for the pontiff
Dozens of tango dancers gathered at the Gemelli hospital in Rome to dance the tango for Pope Francis, where he is being treated for double pneumonia.
The idea of dancing the tango in front of the hospital came from dancer Daiana Guspero, who brought together several tangueros to make the pontiff feel the “energy of the tango”.
“I was lucky enough to meet him, to dance for him, to dance for the Pope,” she said, adding that when she met Pope Francis she asked him if she could give him a “tango hug” to which he replied, “How I would love to dance a tango with you.”
Guspero thinks it's "wonderful" that the pope, being Argentinian, loves tango as much as the tangueros do.
Francis did not appear from the 10th-floor suite of windows as he is still recovering from his complex lung condition.
The next update won’t be issued until mid-week, the Vatican said.