Pope Francis records a message for the faithful; It remains stable

Pope Francis sent his first audio message on Thursday since he was hospitalized for double pneumonia almost three weeks ago, expressing his gratitude «from the bottom of my heart» to supporters around the world who have expressed their good wishes.

A brief message from two lines recorded by Francisco from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome early on Thursday was reproduced during a night prayer service for the Pontiff in the Plaza de San Pedro in El Vaticano that night.

Francisco, who has been hospitalized for almost three weeks fighting a double pneumonia, remained stable on Thursday and had no new episodes of respiratory crisis, the Vatican said.

In a sign of progress while the 88 -year -old pontiff continues his treatment; His doctors said they would not issue another medical bulletin until Saturday, «considering the stability of the clinical picture.»

The Pontiff entered the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14 with a serious respiratory infection that has required a continuous evolution treatment.

In the most recent detailed medical update about his condition, the Vatican said that the Pope had not had a fever and that his blood test had remained stable. Despite pausing the daily readings about their condition, doctors continued to qualify the Pope’s prognosis as «reserved», which means that it is not yet out of danger.

The tone of the Vatican updates has been more optimistic in recent days, after which it was described as two episodes of «acute respiratory failure» on Monday.

On Thursday, the Vatican said that the Pope had been able to work between receiving his treatments and resting.

He also said that the pontiff, who has used a wheelchair in recent years due to knee and back pain, had continued with some physiotherapy to help him with mobility, which began on Wednesday.

The respiratory episodes on Monday had forced Francisco to use non -invasive mechanical ventilation, which implies placing a mask on the face to help boost air towards the lungs.

The Pope now only receives ventilation at night, said the Vatican. During the day, he receives oxygen through a small hose under his nose.

Francisco has not been seen in public since he entered the hospital, his longest absence since his papacy began 12 years ago. Doctors have not specified the duration of treatment.

Francisco, known for working until exhaustion has continued to do it from the hospital. On Thursday, the Vatican announced the appointments of two bishops that would have required their approval.

The Pope has suffered several health problems in the last two years and is prone to pulmonary infections, since as a young man suffer from pleurisy and removed part of a lung.

Double pneumonia is a serious infection in both lungs that can inflame them and leave scars, making breathing difficult.