India, March 16 -- The Vatican on Sunday released the first photograph of Pope Francis since the 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalised for double pneumonia on February 14.

The photograph, taken from behind, shows Pope Francis wearing a purple stole sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar.

"This morning Pope Francis concelebrated the Holy Mass in the chapel of the apartment on the tenth floor of the Gemelli Polyclinic," the Vatican press office wrote in the photograph's caption.

The pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that has required evolving treatment. He has not been seen in public since.

Earlier today, Pope Francis acknowledged being fragile and "facing a period of tr...