Pope Francis remains in stable condition after spending another night in the hospital, the Vatican confirmed Friday, marking a week since his admission for pneumonia in both lungs.

According to a Vatican update, the 88-year-old pontiff had a restful night and was able to get up and have breakfast in the morning. This follows a series of increasingly positive reports on his health from the Vatican in recent days.

Francis was initially hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli hospital last Friday with bronchitis, which later progressed into pneumonia, raising concerns worldwide. However, the Vatican reassured on Thursday that he remained fever-free, with stable blood flow parameters.

Despite his condition, the pope has continued working, keeping up with correspondence and engaging with his collaborators, according to Vatican sources.

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, head of Italy’s bishops’ conference, expressed optimism about the pope’s recovery, noting that his ability to eat breakfast, read newspapers, and receive visitors was a positive sign.

On medical advice, Francis has canceled all engagements for the week, including a scheduled audience on Saturday and mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday. It remains uncertain whether he will be able to lead the traditional Angelus prayer at midday on Sunday from the hospital balcony, as he has done in previous stays at Gemelli.

Last Sunday, the Vatican released a prepared Angelus prayer on his behalf, though it was not read by the pope himself.

Public Support and Well-Wishes

During his hospitalization, devoted Catholics have gathered outside the Gemelli hospital, lighting candles and placing photos of the pope near a statue of Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, has called on parishes across the city to pray for his swift recovery.

Despite his illness, the pope has remained in good spirits, according to a Vatican spokesperson. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who visited him for 20 minutes on Wednesday, described him as “alert” and even joking, saying he had not lost his “proverbial sense of humor.”

Pope Francis, who had part of a lung removed in his youth, has faced several health challenges in recent years, including recurrent bronchitis, hip and knee pain, and surgeries for his colon and a hernia. His current hospitalization marks his fourth stay at Gemelli hospital since 2021.