Pope Francis' voice has been heard for the first time since he was admitted to hospital last month. The Vatican released a new audio message on Thursday evening for worshippers to hear at the beginning of the evening Rosary prayer in St Peter's Square. In it, the pontiff was heard saying: "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square, I am with you from here."

       He added: "May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you." Associated Press reports that Francis’ voice was "weak" and "discernible through his laboured breaths". The message was recorded by the Argentinian in his native Spanish from Rome's Gemelli Hospital. He has been receiving treatment there for double pneumonia since being admitted last month. It comes after the Vatican said the Pope's condition has today been stable "compared to previous days" in an update.

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       It added that he has not had a fever and his blood tests remain stable.

       "Considering the stability of the clinical picture, the next medical bulletin will be released on Saturday," officials said this evening.

       The Pope's daily routine now includes both physical and respiratory therapy, as well as treatment for double pneumonia.

       PA reports the Vatican said the evening rosary prayer for Francis would be presided over by Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime, the deputy official in charge of the Vatican’s department for religious orders.

       The department is actually headed by Sister Simona Brambilla, the first-ever nun named as prefect of a major Holy See office.

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       But when Francis appointed her in January, he simultaneously named Cardinal Artime as “pro-prefect”, possibly a sign that he foresaw there would be some functions that only an ordained priest could perform.

       The Pope has been sleeping with a non-invasive mechanical mask to guarantee that his lungs expand properly overnight and help his recovery.

       He has been transitioning to receiving high-flow oxygen with a nasal tube during the day.

       The 88-year-old, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been stable for three full days after suffering a pair of respiratory crises on Monday.