The Vatican's health update on Monday evening revealed that Pope Francis is using high-flow oxygen therapy less frequently. In addition, the swelling in his hand, seen in a photo taken and published on Sunday,

The Vatican press office released a photo of Pope Francis on Sunday in a private chapel of Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

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.