Pope Francis, hospitalized for the past 17 days due to double pneumonia, expressed his gratitude to the faithful around the world for their prayers, which have made him feel “supported,” in his Angelus message broadcast by the Vatican on Sunday.

“I would like to thank you for your prayers (…): I feel your affection and closeness, and in this particular moment, I feel ‘carried’ and supported by the people of God,” said the 88-year-old Argentine pontiff in his address. The spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide has been hospitalized at the Gemelli Clinic in Rome since February 14 for bronchitis, which developed into double pneumonia. Since then, he has not made any public appearances.

On Sunday, he missed the traditional Angelus message from St. Peter’s Square for the third consecutive week. His latest medical report, issued by the Holy See on Saturday evening, stated that his condition is “stable” after a relapse on Friday due to a respiratory crisis caused by “bronchospasm,” and that his prognosis remains “reserved.”

In his message “from the hospital,” Francis also emphasized “the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people,” and offered thanks to the doctors who are “caring for him.”

Yamandú Orsi was sworn in as Uruguay’s President this Saturday, outlining his top priorities for his administration: the economy, security, poverty, and the search for those disappeared during the dictatorship.

The former presidential candidate from the Frente Amplio delivered a 25-minute speech before the Uruguayan General Assembly, laying out the broad guidelines of his policies while signaling openness to dialogue with the political opposition.

At the beginning of his address, he acknowledged 40 years of democracy in Uruguay but emphasized that the scars of the dictatorship remain.

“This is why it is both fair and essential to uphold our commitment to freedom, truth, and justice,” he stated, drawing applause from the audience.

His commitment to finding those who disappeared during the dictatorship resurfaced at the end of his speech:
“Our democracy will be healthier the day every Uruguayan family knows where their missing loved ones are.”

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On the economic front, Orsi emphasized Uruguay’s legal security and macroeconomic stability.

“The positive accumulation of past efforts has made Uruguay a country with stable rules, where contracts are honored, where the state fulfills its commitments, and where macroeconomic stability is a state policy,” he highlighted.

He acknowledged differences in economic policy approaches, stating:
“We may disagree on the tools to achieve a fairer distribution of national wealth—something we deeply value—but we will not ignore the economic principles Uruguay has upheld since the restoration of democracy.”

Regarding security, Orsi took a firm stance:
“There will be no leniency toward crime or its repression,” he declared, reaffirming his administration’s unwavering commitment to combating organized crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

However, he also warned that a purely repressive approach would be insufficient:
“We know well that any solution will be incomplete—and even demagogic—if we fail to address the many root causes of violence.”

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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Saturday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was humiliated during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, calling the scenes broadcast live by the media “grotesque.”

“I’m not a diplomat, but since diplomacy was created, there has never been such a grotesque and disrespectful scene as the one that took place in the Oval Office of the White House,” Lula told reporters in Montevideo, where he was attending the inauguration of Uruguay’s president-elect, Yamandú Orsi.

“Honestly, I believe that part of society thrives on disrespecting others, and it is impossible to talk about democracy without respecting other human beings. I think Zelensky was humiliated, and I believe that in Trump’s mind, Zelensky deserved it,” he added.

Earlier on Saturday, Lula met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a bilateral discussion. During their meeting, Lula stated that Europe would likely bear the responsibility for rebuilding Ukraine and maintaining NATO.

“It is very likely that Europe will be blamed for the disaster happening now, when in reality, it is not the fault of any specific country. It is a matter of irresponsible leaders who refuse to discuss peace and instead prefer to talk about war,” he argued.

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Lula also reiterated Brazil and China’s proposal for a negotiated peace process, which would bring Ukraine and Russia to the table with other countries acting as mediators.