Pope Francis says he faces 'period of trial' in health update

Pope Francis has said helium faces a "period of trial" arsenic helium thanked well-wishers connected Sunday for their prayers.

The Argentine pontiff has been recovering successful infirmary from pneumonia, aft helium was admitted connected 14 February.

In today's message, the 88-year-old referenced Biblical passages and prayed for bid successful "countries wounded by war".

It marked the 5th Sunday successful a enactment the Pope was not contiguous successful idiosyncratic for his play blessing, though the Vatican said earlier this week an X-ray had confirmed "improvements" successful his condition. It has since cautioned helium inactive needs infirmary treatment.

"The Holy Father inactive requires infirmary aesculapian therapy, centrifugal and respiratory physiotherapy; these therapies, astatine present, are showing further, gradual improvements," it said successful a connection connected Saturday.

The Pope has not been seen successful nationalist since his admittance to infirmary and nary photographs person been released of the spiritual figurehead.

"I articulation with truthful galore brothers and sisters who are sick: fragile, astatine this time, similar me," the Pope said successful his connection today.

"Let america proceed to commune for peace, particularly successful the countries wounded by war: tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo."

Since his accomplishment successful Rome's Gemelli hospital, the Pope has been treated for treble pneumonia and different infections.

He has besides suffered respective respiratory crises, which has raised concerns astir his survival.

Earlier connected this month, an audio signaling of Pope Francis speaking successful his autochthonal Spanish was played successful St Peter's Square successful Vatican City.

His dependable was breathless arsenic helium thanked the Catholic faithful for their prayers.

Francis, calved Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is the archetypal Pope from the Americas.

He contracted pleurisy arsenic a young antheral and had a partial lung removal, which has near him peculiarly susceptible to pneumonia.

As a effect of his agelong load to recovery, determination has been speculation that Pope Francis could take to travel his predecessor Benedict XVI and resign the papacy.

But friends and biographers adjacent to the Pope person insisted helium has nary plans to measurement down. And, contempt his fragile health, the pontiff has continued his enactment from hospital.

2025 is simply a Catholic Holy Year, with 32 cardinal pilgrims expected to travel to Rome.