For the first time since Pope Francis was hospitalised a month ago, the Vatican press office released a photograph showing him concelebrating Mass yesterday in the chapel at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. Source: OSV News.
The Mass also was the first the Vatican described as concelebrated by the 88-year-old Pope in the hospital. He has been receiving the Eucharist daily and on the previous Sundays was described as having “participated” in the liturgy.
The Vatican press office did release a 27-second audio message from Pope Francis on March 6 thanking people for their prayers. The Pope had obvious difficulty breathing and speaking.
But for the fifth Sunday in a row, Pope Francis did not come to his window for the recitation of the Angelus prayer, but may have seen some yellow or white balloons fly past his hospital room.
More than a hundred children gathered yesterday in the square in front of the hospital to pray the Angelus; many were hoping the Pope would come to his window to wave, while a few children appeared more concerned about keeping hold of their balloons.
Although the Pope did not come to the window, he thanked the children in the message the Vatican press office published at noon.
“I know that many children are praying for me; some of them came here today to Gemelli as a sign of closeness,” he wrote. “Thank you, dearest children! The Pope loves you and is always waiting to meet you.”
Pope Francis has been hospitalised since February 14 and continues to be treated for double pneumonia and multiple infections. His doctors have said his condition continues to improve gradually, so they do not expect to publish another medical bulletin until March 18 or 19.
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Vatican releases first photo of Pope Francis since his hospitalisation (By Cindy Wooden, OSV News)
