ROME (AP) — A weak and breathless Pope Francis thanked people for their prayers for his recovery in a remarkable audio message broadcast Thursday, the first public sign of life from the 88-year-old pope since he was hospitalized three weeks ago with double pneumonia.

In his prepared March 9 homily for the first Sunday of Lent, the Holy Father said difficulties and trials do not "end in failure” for Christians who embrace their relationship with God our redeemer.

Pope Francis is resting after sleeping through the night with a ventilation mask as he undergoes hospital treatment for double pneumonia.

Pope Francis’ condition remained stable on Wednesday (March 5), according to a Vatican statement relaying his doctors’ reports. As Francis is being treated for pneumonia in both lungs at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome,

Pope Francis was resting Thursday after a peaceful ... The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season leading to Easter without the pope’s participation. A cardinal took his place leading ...

Pope Francis is participating in the Vatican’s weeklong spiritual retreat from a Rome hospital as he continued his recovery on Monday from double pneumonia and looks ahead to the 12th anniversary of his election amid questions about what the future of his papacy might look like.