On Sunday, the Vatican released a new photograph showing the 88-year-old participating in a mass at the hospital's chapel. The Pope sits in a wheelchair, dressed in the liturgical color of Lent, purple, with his gaze fixed on an altar. His face is seen in profile.
According to the Vatican, priests were present during the mass, but no one else is visible in the picture.
Earlier, children gathered outside the hospital with greetings and get-well wishes for the Pope. The Pope was not seen waving through the window, but thanked the children and blessed them in his traditional Sunday ritual:
"I know that many children are praying for me; some of them came here to Gemelli today as a sign of affection", the Pope wrote in the text to the Angelus prayer and continued:
"Thank you, dear children! The Pope loves you and always looks forward to meeting you."
