The pope, seated and dressed in white garments, clasps the right hand of a cleanshaven older man in a suit and tie who is standing. Nearby a priest in dark religious outfit stands.

Pope Francis was hospitalized Friday and was receiving drug therapy after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened, the Vatican said, in the latest issues with the 88-year-old's pontiff's health that forced him to cancel his agenda through Monday at least.