Pope Francis, 88, who is recovering from illness as he was hospitalised three weeks ago, on Thursday thanked people for their prayers in an audio message. It came as the first public communication from the Pope, who continues to recover from double pneumonia.
In a feeble voice, discernible through his laboured breaths and in his native Spanish, Pope extended his gratitude "from the bottom of [his] heart," adding, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the square; I accompany you from here."
