Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized for three weeks with bilateral pneumonia, had a restful night and woke up shortly after 8 a.m. this morning, the Vatican announced, quoted by Agence France-Presse, BTA reports.
The condition of the 87-year-old head of the Catholic Church remains stable. The Vatican has published an audio message in Spanish for the first time, in which the pope thanks the faithful for their prayers.
„I thank you with all my heart for the prayers for my health, which you are sending from „St. Peter“ Square in Rome. "May God bless you and may the Virgin Mary take care of you," the pope said in the 30-second message, taking several deep breaths.
The announcement was made last night during the daily prayer for his recovery and was greeted with applause from hundreds of believers gathered in the Roman square.
Pope Francis has not appeared in public since February 14, when he was admitted to hospital. This is his longest stay in a medical facility since his election as head of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013.
During his treatment, he alternated between rest and prayer, receiving oxygen therapy. Doctors have not yet given an estimate for the duration of his treatment, nor for an expected recovery time.