After five weeks of hospitalization with pneumonia, including moments where he came close to death, Pope Francis is back at home in the Vatican recovering.

ROME — The Vatican on Friday said Pope Francis’ health has continued to improve after his release from hospital. The 88-year-old is still receiving oxygen through a tube in his nose, but at a lower dose, a Vatican spokesman said. Francis is also having fewer problems speaking than earlier this week, the spokesman added.

The Vatican has released the first photograph of the pope in more than a month, showing Pope Francis wearing a purple Lenten liturgical vestments sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar in the hospital chapel.