Pope Francis shares a voice message from a hospital

Pope Francis released an audio message that thanked people around the world for their support after being admitted to hospital on February 14th.

This is the first time the 88-year-old has been heard by the public after entering the hospital to be treated for bronchitis before being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.

The short, two-row message, recorded earlier on the same day by Jameli Hospital in Rome, is played during the Night Prayer Service for the Pope at St. Peter Square in the Vatican.

Earlier this week, the Vatican said the pontiff was stable after having suffered two episodes of respiratory failure and used a “non-invasive mechanical ventilation”, but is now again on an oxygen mask with a high stream.

The Pope is forced to cancel a number of events after his hospitalization, recently on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the six -week period leading to Easter.