Pope might somehow lead Angelus for faithful on Sunday

The director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, gave an update on Pope Francis's health on Friday - as he has done twice a week since the Pope's return to the Vatican on March 23.

Blood tests again show “slight improvements” in the condition of the Pope, who spent nearly 40 days hospitalized for polymicrobial pulmonary infection and double pneumonia.

Back at the Vatican, the Pope is dedicating a large part of his time to respiratory and motor physiotherapy, which is showing progress, particularly in the use of his voice, the Vatican explained.

Still on oxygen, the Holy Father has, however, been able to reduce the intensity of his respiratory assistance. As he has been doing for several weeks, he uses high-flow oxygen at night as needed - through nasal cannulas - and uses a lighter device during the day.

The head of the Catholic Church, who has been prescribed two months' rest by his doctors, has not received any visitors but continues to work. In “good spirits,” he is closely following “the events of the Church,” the director of the Press Office said.

Saturday morning, the Argentinian pontiff watched the Lenten sermon given at the Vatican by the preacher of the Papal Household, Father Roberto Pasolini. He also watched the Mass celebrated on Wednesday by the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin for the 20th anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II.

When Francis has had bronchitis in the past, he has greeted the faithful by video from his chapel.

If images are broadcast, it will be the pontiff's first public appearance since his return to the Vatican. During his five weeks in hospital, he only appeared once, on the day of his release, to briefly greet the crowd from a balcony of the Gemelli Polyclinic.

The next update on the health of Pope Francis should come next Tuesday, April 8.

“I would have liked to be present among you [...] but I am still convalescing,” the pope said regretfully in a message addressed to the participants in Slovakia's national jubilee pilgrimage, which was made public Saturday.