Francis appears ready to remain Pope, as Vatican releases first photo of long hospital stay

The Vatican on Sunday released the first image of Pope Francis since mid-February when he was taken to the hospital where he remains, recovering from a severe respiratory illness.

The photo released by the Vatican showed Francis sitting alone in a wheelchair in a chapel at Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital, after he reportedly celebrated Mass with other priests, who are not seen in the picture. 

The Vatican says the 88-year-old Pope has gone to the chapel to pray "every day since his medical condition has shown slight improvements." Francis was hospitalized Feb. 14.

The photo was released one day after Francis approved a new three-year process to consider reforms for the global Catholic Church, according to Reuters. The approval of the process is being considered a sign the Pope has no immediate plans to retire.

Francis was hospitalized with a mild fever and a respiratory tract infection. He later reportedly developed pneumonia in both lungs and kidney failure.