Pope Francis, who has been battling pneumonia and bronchitis for over three weeks, has expressed gratitude to the medical staff caring for him, commending their “tender” care.
For the fourth consecutive Sunday, the Argentine Pontiff was unable to deliver his weekly blessing in person, but the Vatican released a prepared text on his behalf.
“While I am here, I think of the many people who are close to the sick,” he wrote, describing them as “bringing a little light into the night of pain.”
The Vatican announced on Saturday that the Pope had shown a “good response” to treatment in recent days at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
“The clinical condition of the Holy Father has remained stable, indicating a good response to the treatment,” the Vatican said, adding that there has been a “gradual, slight improvement.”
In his message, Pope Francis reflected on the care he received, expressing heartfelt thanks to the doctors and healthcare workers for their “thoughtfulness of service and the tenderness of care.”
He highlighted the importance of those who support the sick, describing them as a “sign of the Lord’s presence” and emphasizing the need for the “miracle of tenderness” to bring comfort during adversity.
On Sunday evening, the Pope participated via video link in “spiritual exercises” for senior Catholic clerics, an annual period of reflection led by a preacher. While he joined as a “recipient,” the Pope was not visible on the video feed.
Earlier on Saturday, the 88-year-old prayed in the chapel of the papal suite at Gemelli Hospital.
Pope Francis has not made a public appearance since being hospitalized on February 14, marking his longest absence from the public eye since his papacy began 12 years ago.
He was admitted after experiencing breathing difficulties and initially treated for bronchitis before being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs. His medical history, including pleurisy as a young man that required partial lung removal, makes him particularly vulnerable to lung infections.
Doctors believe the Pope faces a prolonged recovery due to his age and underlying health conditions.