Pope Francis pictured for first time since spell in intensive care with pneumonia

The leader of the Catholic Church can be seen celebrating mass in his prayer room

The Vatican has released the first image of Pope Francis since he was taken to hospital with double pneumonia more than a month ago.

The photograph shows the 88-year-old pontiff celebrating a mass in his prayer room in the hospital chapel on Sunday morning.

The photograph is taken from behind, and shows the leader of the Catholic Church wearing a purple stole sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar.

The Vatican said he was particpating in the celebration of the Mass with other priests.

Candles and flowers for Pope Francis outside the Rome's Gemelli hospital (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

It is the first photograph of the pope since he was admitted to hospital on 14 February with a severe case of bronchitis, which developed into double pneumonia. It is also the first time the Vatican has mentioned that the Pope has participated in celebrating a Mass in the period.

Earlier, dozens of children toting yellow and white balloons – many from war-torn countries – gathered outside Rome's Gemelli hospital to greet Francis.

While the Pope did not appear from the 10th-floor suite of windows, he thanked them and acknowledged their presence in the traditional Sunday blessing.

"I know that many children are praying for me; some of them came here today to Gemelli as a sign of closeness," the pontiff said in the Angelus text prepared for the traditional prayer but not delivered live again.

The 88-year-old has been in hospital for a month (AP)

"Thank you, dearest children! The pope loves you and is always waiting to meet you," Francis said.

Doctors this week said the pontiff was no longer in a critical condition, but they have continued to emphasise that his condition remained complex due to his age, lack of mobility and the loss of part of a lung as a young man.

Still, they are issuing fewer medical bulletins as the pontiff has been on an upward trajectory. An X-ray this week confirmed that the infection was clearing.

Francis has not been seen publicly since he was admitted to the hospital after a bout of bronchitis that made it difficult for him to speak. Doctors soon added a diagnosis of double pneumonia and a polymicrobial (bacterial, viral and fungal) infection.

The first three weeks of his time in hospital were marked by a rollercoaster of setbacks, including respiratory crises, mild kidney failure and a severe coughing fit.