• Source:JND
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The Vatican on Sunday released the first image of Pope Francis in hospital since the 88-year-old pontiff began treatment for double pneumonia. The pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that has required evolving treatment. He has not been seen in public since.

Francis is pictured from behind in the image as he is seated in a chapel at the hospital. The Vatican said the pope had celebrated Mass with other priests in the chapel on Sunday. The pope, who has been receiving oxygen throughout his treatment in hospital, appears to be breathing on his own in the photo.

Pope Francis health status

The Vatican said Francis was continuing with medical treatments, respiratory physiotherapy and physical therapy for his mobility. "These therapies, at present, show further, gradual improvements," said the statement.

The Vatican has not given a timeframe for the pope's discharge from hospital, saying his recovery is slow. It is publishing medical updates every few days now, compared to twice-daily updates previously. The pope had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. He is known to work himself to exhaustion, and has continued to work from hospital. 

On Saturday, the Vatican announced that earlier in the week Francis had approved a new three-year process to consider reforms for the global Catholic Church, in a sign that he intends to continue on as pope, despite his health difficulties.

Will Pope Francis resign?

His friends and biographers have insisted, however, that he has no plans to step down. The approval of a new three-year process indicated he wants to continue on, despite his age and the possibility he might face a long, fraught road to recovery from pneumonia, given his age and other medical conditions. "The Holy Father ... is helping push the renewal of the Church toward a new missionary impulse," Cardinal Mario Grech, the official leading the reform process, told the Vatican's media outlet. "This is truly a sign of hope."

(With inputs from agency)

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