VATICAN CITY, March 28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Pope Francis is showing "slight improvements" as he recovers at home from 
five weeks in hospital with life-threatening double pneumonia, with his voice notably now stronger, the Vatican said Friday.

The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church is also following the news, and offered his prayers for the victims of the powerful 
earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand, the press office said.

Francis left Rome's Gemelli hospital on Sunday, returning to his home in the Vatican for what doctors say will be at least two 
months of convalescence.

The Vatican said Friday he was continuing motor and respiratory physiotherapy and "his condition is improving, including his 
capacity to speak".

Before being discharged, the Argentine pontiff thanked well-wishers from a hospital balcony, his voice sounding weak and 
breathless.

It was his first appearance in public since he was admitted on February 14.

One of his doctors, Sergio Alfieri, previously said that with double pneumonia the lungs are damaged and the respiratory 
muscles are strained, so it can take time for the voice to return to normal.

The Vatican said the pope was using less and less high-flow oxygen to help him breathe, but still used it for part of the night.

Francis has not received visitors this week other than "his closest collaborators", it said.

It added that he was "in good spirits".

For now, Francis does not intend to appear in public for his Sunday Angelus prayer, instead publishing the text, as he has 
since his hospitalisation, it said.

In a telegram published by the Vatican, Francis said he was "deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread devastation" 
caused by the earthquake in Myanmar.

He offered prayers for those who died -- estimated for now at more than 20 people -- and for emergency workers.

The pontiff also sent a telegram to express his concern and prayers following South Korea's worst-ever wildfires.