Faithful gathered at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican and outside Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Monday (February 24) as Pope Francis remains critically ill but alert, according to the Vatican. Could these jumping mice change how astronauts exercise?

The Vatican reported another slight improvement in Pope Francis's condition on Thursday, as the 88-year-old spent his seventh day in hospital being treated for double pneumonia.

The Vatican on Tuesday canceled papal audiences through the weekend and delegated others to cover for Pope Francis as the 88-year-old pope remained hospitalized with a multi-pronged respiratory infection.

His age and prolonged illness have raised questions about whether he might resign, and revived interest about how papal power is exercised in the Holy See.

The pope looms so large in everyday Italian life that there are lots of expressions that make light of even a dark event like his death. “A pope dies, they make another,” goes one, suggesting how life goes on.

Vatican says new scans show pope has the onset of bilateral pneumonia but remains in good spirits. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,

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Francis' age and prolonged illness has revived interest about how papal power is exercised in the Holy See, how it is transferred and under what circumstances.

The pope looms so large in everyday Italian life that there are lots of expressions that make light of even a dark event like his death

The Vatican says Pope Francis is stable and that he followed Mass on television after a second night sleeping well at the hospital. The 88-year-old Argentine pontiff was admitted to

As his hospital stay drags on, Francis' cardinals have had to consider the obvious question circulating: whether Francis might resign if his illness continues.