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Agence France-Presse

Pope Francis spent a “calm night” as he marked three weeks in hospital with pneumonia, the Vatican said Friday, the day after the 88-year-old issued his first audio message.
The Holy See had on Thursday evening reported the pontiff’s condition was “stable” for the third day in a row, with no repeat of the respiratory crises that have punctuated his time at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.
It then released an audio recording made earlier in the day in which Francis, breathless, thanked those who have been praying for his recovery.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square, I accompany you from here,” the Argentine said in a message broadcast in St Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis releases an audio message to thank everyone who has been praying for his health.
The audio clip was broadcast in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday, March 6, as Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime led the nightly Rosary prayer.https://t.co/owgis4dsGX pic.twitter.com/bi7nTAzDRs
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) March 6, 2025

“May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you,” he said, taking laboured breaths as he spoke in his native Spanish.
It was the first time the world has heard Francis’ voice since he was admitted to the Gemelli hospital, which has a special suite for popes on the 10th floor, on February 14.
Pilgrims have been gathering in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican every evening to pray for the pope’s recovery, and hundreds of people there on Thursday applauded when they heard his message.
The Vatican has been providing twice daily updates on the pope’s health, a morning one on how the night went, and an evening medical bulletin.
Francis – who had part of a lung removed as a young man – has worn an oxygen mask to help him sleep in recent nights.
On Thursday morning, as on the previous day, he switched to a less onerous nasal cannula – a plastic tube tucking into his nostrils – which provides high-flow oxygen, a Vatican source said.

Francis missed the formal Ash Wednesday celebrations in Rome marking the start of Lent, but took part in a blessing in his private suite on the 10th floor of the Gemelli.
The leader of the world’s almost 1.4 billion Catholics has not been seen in public since his hospitalisation – the longest of his papacy.
Nor has the Vatican issued any photos, although Francis has published several texts.
During previous hospitalisations, the pope appeared on the Gemelli balcony for his weekly Angelus prayer at noon on Sundays.
But he has missed the last three, and no announcement has yet been made about whether he will make an appearance this weekend.
The Vatican confirmed Thursday that senior cardinal Michael Czerny would stand in for the pope and lead the mass this weekend marking the first Sunday of Lent.

The mass was also part of celebrations for the Jubilee 2025, a Holy Year led by the pope, dedicated this weekend to volunteers.
The Holy See said Thursday the event “takes on an even deeper meaning, as the thoughts and prayers of all the brothers and sisters turn to the Holy Father and the experience he is going through”.
The pope was initially diagnosed with bronchitis but it developed into pneumonia in both lungs, sparking alarm across the globe.
On February 22, he suffered a “prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis” and on February 28 had “an isolated crisis of bronchospasm” – a tightening of the muscles that line the airways in the lungs.
On Monday, Francis “experienced two episodes of acute respiratory failure, caused by a significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm”, according to the Vatican.
Francis’ health has regularly led to speculation, particularly among his critics, as to whether he could resign like his predecessor, Benedict XVI.


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Pope Francis

Catholic nuns listen to a recorded message from Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square at The Vatican. Photo: AP

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14. Photo: EPA-EFE

Pilgrims have been gathering in St Peter’s Square every evening to pray for the pope’s recovery. Photo: Reuters

Pope Francis no longer needs ventilation, is stable, Vatican says

A woman takes a picture of a wax statue of Pope Francis, as he continues his hospitalisation, in Rome, Italy on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

The Vatican’s Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, left, leads a Rosary prayer for the health of Pope Francis on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Faithful attend a prayer service in St Peter’s Square, as Pope Francis continues his hospitalization, at the Vatican. Photo: Reuters

A painting depicting Pope Francis at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. Photo: Reuters

A man in the ward where Pope Francis is hospitalised. Photo: AP

Pope Francis still fighting pneumonia after a week in hospital

Nuns pray next to the statue of late Pope John Paul II outside the Gemelli hospital where Pope Francis is being treated. Photo: Reuters

Pope Francis in November, 2024. File photo: AFP

Pope begins second week in hospital, cancels Sunday prayer

Nuns pray next to the statue of late Pope John Paul II outside the Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis is being treated, in Rome on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Photo: Reuters

Luigi Carbone (left) and Sergio Alfieri speaking to the press during the Pope’s doctors’ briefing at Gemelli University Hospital. Photo: EPA-EFE

Pope in critical condition with early kidney failure but remains alert as prayers pour in

Pope Francis he arrives for an audience at the Vatican in January. Photo: AFP

Decorated candles, flowers and pictures of Pope Francis at the base of a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

A man wearing Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi jersey attends a mass for the healing of Pope Francis at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Pope Francis marks 3 weeks in hospital after sending first audio message

Francis, 88, has been in hospital since February 14 with double pneumonia