Vatican releases photo of Pope praying from hospital suite chapel

The Vatican on Sunday released the first photograph of Pope Francis since the 88-year-old pontiff was admitted more than a month ago to hospital for pneumonia in both lungs.

"This morning Pope Francis concelebrated the Holy Mass in the chapel of the apartment on the tenth floor of the Gemelli Polyclinic," the Vatican press office wrote in the photograph's caption. Concelebration is the joint celebration by senior clerics of the service.

The photo shows the pope, bare-headed, seated in a wheelchair and wearing a white robe and purple shawl, in front of a simple altar with a crucifix on the wall.

Taken from behind Francis' right side, his face is not fully visible but his eyes are open as he looks in a downward direction.

"This morning Pope Francis concelebrated the Holy Mass in the chapel of the apartment on the tenth floor of the Gemelli Polyclinic," the Vatican press office wrote in the photograph's caption.

Daian Gusher, right, of Argentina, and Massimiliano Varrese, of Italy, dance Tango for Pope Francis outside the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome. AP

Concelebration is the joint celebration of mass by senior clerics.

The release of the photo by the Vatican was significant, as the Argentine pontiff has not been seen in public since being admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Feb.14 for pneumonia, which for weeks doctors considered critical.

He has improved steadily in the past week, however. In a medical bulletin Saturday, the Vatican said his condition continued to be stable, although he still required therapy to be administered from the hospital.

Tango dancers perform for Pope Francis outside the Agostino Gemelli polyclinic in Rome. AP

Earlier Sunday in an Angelus message to the faithful published by the Vatican, the pope addressed his health, sharing that he was "fragile" and "facing a period of trial."

Agence France-Presse