As Pope Francis’ condition remains stable, which is a sign of continued improvement, he followed the start of the Lenten retreat for the Roman Curia by video linkup and met again with two top Vatican officials to stay abreast of current events, the Vatican press office said.
The pope also participated in Mass in the morning 9 March, the first Sunday of Lent, in the chapel that is part of the suite of rooms reserved for the popes on the 10th floor of Rome’s Gemelli hospital, it said.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the substitute for general affairs in the secretariat, visited the pope at the hospital 9 March “and, among other things, updated him on some situations in the church and the world,” the press office said.
It was the third visit by the two officials since the 88-year-old pope was hospitalised 14 February.
Pope Francis had said he would be joining spiritually with those participating in the retreat in the Paul VI Audience Hall 9-14 March.
But the Vatican press office said he was able to follow the spiritual exercises from the hospital by video. The meditations are being led by Capuchin Father Roberto Pasolini, the new preacher of the papal household, and reflect on the theme, “The hope of eternal life.”