The Vatican has released the first official photograph of Pope Francis since his hospitalization for pneumonia, marking his first visual appearance in over a month. The 88-year-old pontiff, seated in a wheelchair, is depicted wearing a white robe and a purple shawl in front of a simple altar, with a crucifix on the wall behind him.
Captured from behind his right side, the image offers only a partial view of his face, though his eyes remain open as he looks downward. The Vatican press office confirmed that the photo was taken Sunday morning as Pope Francis concelebrated Mass in the chapel of his apartment on the tenth floor of Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic.
The release of this photograph holds particular significance, as the pope has not been seen in public since his February 14 admission to the hospital, where doctors deemed his condition critical. While he has shown steady improvement in recent days, the Vatican has stated that he continues to receive medical therapy at the hospital.
In an Angelus message published earlier on Sunday, Pope Francis acknowledged his ongoing health struggles, describing himself as “fragile” and undergoing “a period of trial.” Despite these challenges, his participation in Mass signals a gradual recovery, offering hope to the Catholic faithful worldwide.