The Pope thanks volunteers for «miracle of tenderness» while continuing hospitalized

Pope Francis issued a message on Sunday in which he thanked the volunteers for the «miracle of tenderness» that they offer the sick, while continued their recovery of bilateral pneumonia and the doctors gave some positive news: after more than three weeks in the hospital, the 88 -year -old Pope is responding well to the treatment and has shown a «gradual and slight improvement» in recent days.

For the fourth consecutive week, the 88 -year -old pontiff did not appear for his weekly blessing at noon, although the Vatican published the text he would have pronounced if he had found himself well enough.

In him, Francisco thanked all those who took care of him and other sick people and suffering a «night of pain.»

«Brothers and sisters, during my prolonged hospitalization here, I also experience the attention of the service and the tenderness of care, in particular of the doctors and health workers, whom I thank with all my heart,» said the message from the Gemelli Hospital.

«And while I am here, I think of the many people who in various ways are close to the sick, and who are for them a sign of the presence of the Lord. We need this, the ‘miracle of tenderness’ that accompanies those who are in adversity, bringing a little light on the night of pain,» he wrote.

The Argentine Pope, who suffers chronic pulmonary disease and who was removed part of a lung when he was young, has remained stable, without fever and with good blood oxygen levels for several days, doctors reported in a Vatican statement on Saturday.

Doctors pointed out that such stability «consequently testifies a good response to therapy.» It was the first time that doctors reported that Francisco was positively responding to the treatment for the complex pulmonary infection diagnosed after it was hospitalized on February 14.

However, they maintained their forecast as «reserved», which means that it is not out of danger. In his Sunday morning report, the Vatican indicated that Francisco was resting after a quiet night.

In his absence, the daily operations of the Vatican continued next to the celebrations of his holy year, the jubilee that occurs once every 25 years and that attracts millions of pilgrims to Rome. On Sunday, Canadian cardinal Michael Czerny, who is close to Francisco, celebrated the Mass of the Holy Year for the volunteers that Francisco should have celebrated.

During the Mass in the Plaza de San Pedro, the huge banner with Francisco’s papal shield waved in the Lodge of the Basilica above. Even while he is in the hospital, Francisco is still very the Pope and is in charge of the Catholic Church.

The Pope has been receiving high supplementary oxygen flows to help him breathe during the day and a non -invasive oxygen mask at night.

Francisco was hospitalized on February 14, so it was just a bad case of bronchitis. The infection progressed to a complex infection of the respiratory tract and bilateral pneumonia that has kept Francisco away from his functions during the longest period of his 12 -year papacy and has raised questions about the future.