Vatican has published the first photo of Pope Francis since he was hospitalized in Rome’s Gemelli hospital with double pneumonia, and it presents the 88-year-old pope breathing without assistance. The Sunday photograph shows Francis sitting in a hospital chapel at Mass, his back to the altar, with his right hand on his lap. It is also notable that there is no apparent sight of supplemental oxygen, which he has been getting through treatment.
Francis was admitted to the hospital on February 14 following a serious respiratory infection. Although he has not been seen in public since then, Vatican officials have said his condition is stable and slowly improving. In a report on Saturday, the Vatican said the pope is increasingly decreasing his use of mechanical ventilation during nighttime hours to help him breathe. No definite timeline for discharge, however, has been indicated as his recovery is slow.
The pope has a history of respiratory problems in his youth when he had surgery for the removal of half of one lung as a result of pleurisy. His present therapy consists of respiratory physiotherapy to assist his lungs and physical therapy to enhance his mobility. In recent years, he has frequently employed a wheelchair on account of knee and back pain.
In spite of his health issues, Francis is still busy with church matters. On Saturday, the Vatican released word of his approval of a new three-year process to consider reforms in the worldwide Catholic Church. The move indicates his determination to carry on in spite of his persistent health issues.
Last Thursday, Francis celebrated his 12th anniversary as pope from his hospital bed. Although physicians outside his medical team warn that his recovery can be long and arduous because of his age and underlying conditions, Vatican reports indicate continued improvement in his health.
