Pope Francis also released an audio message to the faithful on Thursday, his first since being hospitalized in February.
The Pope said in the recently uploaded audio message to the faithful at the start of the evening Rosary prayer in St Peter’s Square: “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square; I am with you from here.”.
“God bless you, and the Virgin protect you. Thank you.”
But when the message was read out, the congregation applauded.
The Pope recorded a message in his native Spanish from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
The 88-year-old has been undergoing treatment for double pneumonia since he was admitted to hospital in February.
The audio recording comes after the Vatican earlier said today that the Pope’s condition has been stable “compared to previous days”.
