Pope Francis is feeling better after spending three weeks in the hospital with pneumonia. He had a calm night, and his doctors say his health is stable for the third day in a row. This means he is not having the breathing troubles that worried everyone before.
On Thursday, he released his first audio message since being admitted to Gemelli Hospital, which has a special room for popes, on February 14. In the message, the 88-year-old pontiff thanked everyone who has been praying for him. He said, “Thank you from my heart for your prayers. I am with you here.” He spoke in his native Spanish and sounded a bit breathless, but people were happy to hear his voice.
Pilgrims have been gathering in St. Peter’s Square every evening to pray for Pope Francis. Many clapped and cheered when they heard him speak. One 76-year-old pilgrim named John said, “It’s a good sign that he can talk.” While another visitor, Claudia, noted that it was tough to hear him so tired.
The Vatican has been giving updates on the Pope’s health every day. They announced that he is doing breathing exercises and physiotherapy and has not had a fever. Although he is stable, the doctors will still be cautious about predicting what will happen next. They plan to share the next update on Saturday.
