Pope Francis did not publicly give his Sunday blessing, but the Vatican said that his recovery from surgery was proceeding well and that he had started physical therapy to improve his breathing.

The 86-year-old pope, as previously indicated, watched Mass on television instead of saying the traditional Sunday midday Angelus prayer.

Doctors had recommended he avoid putting strain on his abdomen after a three-hour operation at Rome’s Gemelli hospital to repair a hernia on Wednesday.

The pope will stay in hospital for at least all of this week and all audiences have been cancelled until June 18.

Sunday’s statement added that the pope showed no signs of fever and that blood levels were normal.

He also received communion, it said.