The Sat Report: The Pope's voice resounds in St. Peter Square once more

The evening we heard Pope Francis' voice for the first time since he was hospitalised

"I thank you with all my heart for the prayers you offer for my health from [St. Peter’s] Square. I accompany you from here. May God bless you, and may the Virgin protect you. Thank you."

These were the first words we have heard Pope Francis utter since he was hospitalised on February 14. He speaks in Spanish, his voice is very weak, his breathing labour, and you can hear the high-flow oxygen in the background. The Pope clearly wanting to share his gratitude for the rosaries being prayer in St. Peter’s Square, and all over the world for his intentions.

I admit I got really emotional hearing the voice of the Holy Father, and I commend him for publishing it. However it does raise some questions, namely how exactly is the Pope supposed to be working in this condition. I will just leave it at that.

On the medical side of things, officially the Pope is in a stable condition, and nothing has changed, for better or worse, over the last three days, and as such doctors will no longer be issuing daily updates. The next scheduled medical update will be on Saturday.

Here is today’s statement from the Holy See Press Office in full:

The Holy Father's clinical condition has remained stable compared to previous days.

He has not experienced any episodes of respiratory insufficiency today. The Pope has continued both respiratory and motor physiotherapy with beneficial effects. Hemodynamic parameters and blood test results remain stable.

He did not run a fever. However, the prognosis remains reserved.

Given the stability of his clinical condition, the next medical bulletin will be issued on Saturday.

Today, the Holy Father engaged in some work activities in both the morning and afternoon, alternating them with periods of rest and prayer. Before lunch, he received Holy Communion.

This evening the eleventh of the nightly rosaries for the health of Pope Francis has held in St. Peter’s Square, tonight led by Ángel Cardinal Fernández Artime, S.D.B. Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, with the some of the Roman Curia and most of the other Cardinals resident in Rome in attendance.

Let us all please continue to pray for the Pope, whose condition is critical, during this very trying time for him.

Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Francisco. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.