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People across the world have been united in prayer for Pope Francis since his hospitalisation for pneumonia on 14 February. In recent days, medical bulletins provided by the Holy See Press Office have highlighted improvements in the Pope's condition, with a photograph issued by the Vatican on Sunday, showing the Pope in Rome’s Gemelli hospital chapel, breathing unaided.

In a statement issued yesterday evening the Holy See Press Office said:

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“The Holy Father's clinical condition is improving. The Pope has suspended non-invasive mechanical ventilation and also has less need of high-flow oxygen therapy. Motor and respiratory physiotherapy is continuing to make progress. This morning, on the Solemnity of St Joseph, the Holy Father concelebrated Mass.”

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Pope Francis, aged 88, has undertaken as much work as practically possible while in hospital, keeping in touch with the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, and continuing to call for world peace. Writing in a letter to Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" last Friday, the Pope said:

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"In this moment of illness... war appears even more absurd. Human fragility has the power to make us more lucid about what endures and what passes, what brings life and what kills... We so often tend to deny limits and avoid fragile and wounded people: they have the power to question the direction we have chosen, both as individuals and as a community...

"War only devastates communities and the environment, without offering solutions to conflicts. Diplomacy and international organisations are in need of new vitality and credibility. Religions can draw from the spirituality of peoples to rekindle the desire for fraternity and justice [and] the hope for peace... Let us [be] united in this effort, which heavenly Grace will continue to inspire and accompany."

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Source: Vatican News