First picture of Pope Francis since hospitalisation released

The Holy See Press office on Sunday released the first picture of Pope Francis since he was hospitalised on February 14, 2025.

In the picture seen by the Star, the Pope is in a wheelchair.

The release of the picture came after Pope Francis participated in the celebration of the Eucharist.

“The Holy See Press Office has released a picture of Pope Francis in prayer after concelebrating the Eucharist this morning. It's the first to be released since the Pope's hospitalisation on 14 February,” the Vatican said.

Eucharist is the name Catholic Christians give to the sacrament by which, according to their belief, the body and blood of Christ are present in the bread and wine consecrated during the Catholic Mass.

This comes a few days after Catholics around the world are marking the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis's election as pontiff by praying for his recovery.

The Pope, who was elected on 13 March 2013, has been in Rome's Gemelli Hospital for slightly over a month.

He is being treated for double pneumonia and other infections.

The Pope has suffered several respiratory crises during his treatment but the latest information says that he continues to be stable and in recovery.

Pope Francis had not been seen in public since his admission to the hospital and no photographs had been released, save for Sunday (March 16).

Earlier this month, an audio recording of him speaking in his native Spanish was played in St Peter's Square in Vatican City.

In recent days, the Pope has joined spiritual exercises of prayers and meditation held at the Vatican via video link, without being seen.