Pope Francis released an audio message on Thursday, expressing gratitude to those praying for his recovery as he nears three weeks in the hospital battling pneumonia. His voice, breathless and frail, resonated across St. Peter’s Square.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square, I accompany you from here,” the pope said in his native Spanish. “May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you.” His words, at times fading, reflected his weakened state.
This marked the first time the world has heard the 88-year-old pontiff’s voice since his hospitalization at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14. Pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square erupted in applause upon hearing his message.
The Vatican reported earlier Thursday that Francis remains in stable condition, with no recurrence of Monday’s respiratory failure. His bloodwork has remained steady, and he continues to undergo breathing exercises and physiotherapy without fever. While he managed to do some work, doctors remain cautious about his prognosis.
In light of his stable condition, the Vatican announced that the next medical update will come on Saturday instead of the usual twice-daily reports.
Francis, who had part of a lung removed in his youth, has been using an oxygen mask at night and a nasal cannula during the day to assist his breathing. His hospitalization—now the longest of his papacy—has prevented him from making public appearances, including Ash Wednesday celebrations.
So far, the Vatican has not released any photos of the pope, nor confirmed whether he will appear for the Sunday Angelus prayer this weekend. However, Cardinal Michael Czerny will stand in for him at Sunday Mass, a key event in the lead-up to the Jubilee 2025 Holy Year, which this weekend is dedicated to volunteers.
As Francis continues his recovery, pilgrims plan to gather outside Gemelli Hospital on Saturday to pray for his health, as they have done since his admission.
Concerns over the pope’s health intensified after the Vatican revealed that his initial bronchitis diagnosis developed into pneumonia in both lungs. He suffered severe respiratory crises on February 22 and again on February 28, with further acute respiratory failure on Monday due to mucus buildup and bronchospasms.
Francis’s health struggles have reignited speculation about a potential resignation, a possibility that has been a subject of debate since his predecessor, Benedict XVI, stepped down in 2013.
For now, the Vatican remains focused on his recovery, as the Catholic world continues to pray for the pope’s swift return to public duties.