Pope Francis provided a short update about how he was experiencing Easter this year before the 88-year-old pontiff visited Rome’s Regina Caeli prison on Holy Thursday.

He simply replied, “I am living it as I can.”

Despite continuing his recovery from a serious bout of pneumonia, Pope Francis spent nearly 30 minutes with around 70 inmates at the Trastevere prison, a place he has visited before for the traditional foot-washing ceremony symbolizing Christ’s humble service to his apostles.

This year, the pope was unable to perform the ritual himself due to his health but told the inmates, “I wanted to nevertheless be with you and do what Jesus did on Holy Thursday.”

His presence, despite medical advice to rest and avoid crowds, underscored the importance Francis places on prison ministry, particularly as the 2025 Holy Year highlights outreach to the imprisoned.

“Every time I enter one of these places, I ask myself: ‘Why them and not me?'” Francis reflected in an off-the-cuff remark to reporters outside the prison—his first public comment since falling ill.

Since being released from the Gemelli hospital on March 23 after a 38-day stay for double pneumonia, Francis has resumed limited activities. He made a surprise appearance at the end of Palm Sunday Mass and was recently seen praying privately at St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Mary Major, sometimes without his usual papal attire. Notably, during Thursday’s outing, he was seen without nasal tubes, suggesting improved respiratory function.

On Wednesday, Francis held his first formal group audience since his hospitalization, meeting with over 70 medical staff from Gemelli.

“Thank you for everything you did,” he told them, his voice still weak but growing stronger with ongoing therapy. He requested their continued prayers.

Though Francis has delegated many of Holy Week’s demanding liturgies to trusted cardinals—including Cardinal Angelo Comastri, who will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass—the pope personally wrote the meditations for the Via Crucis procession at the Colosseum. As for the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, the Vatican has not confirmed whether Francis will deliver it himself or have it read on his behalf.

Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.