The 88-year-old pontiff is now able to spend some time during the day off high flows of oxygen and use just ordinary supplemental oxygen delivered by a nasal tube, the Holy See press office said. Doctors are also trying to cut back on the amount of time he uses a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask at night, to force his lungs to work more.

Pope Francis is registering new slight improvements in his month-long treatment for double pneumonia, the Vatican said on Monday, as it also provided some details on the first photo of the pope released since his hospital admission.

The Vatican has released the first image of Pope Francis since he was taken to hospital with double pneumonia more than a month ago. The photograph shows the 88-year-old pontiff celebrating a mass in his prayer room in the hospital chapel on Sunday morning.