Pope Francis is taking part in the Vatican’s week-long spiritual retreat from a Rome hospital as he continues his recovery from double pneumonia.
The retreat comes as the pontiff looks ahead to the 12th anniversary of his election amid questions about what the future of his papacy might look like.
Francis followed the opening of the retreat by video conference on Sunday: he could see and hear the Reverend Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the papal household, but the priests, bishops and cardinals in the Vatican auditorium could not see or hear him.
Pasolini delivered a meditation on “the hope of eternal life”, a theme that was chosen well before Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on February 14 with a complex lung infection.
The retreat, which is an annual gathering that begins the Catholic Church’s solemn Lenten season leading to Easter, continues through the week.
The Vatican has said Francis would take part “in spiritual communion” with the rest of the hierarchy, from afar.
In its early update on Monday, the Vatican said Francis was resting after a quiet night.
At the time of his hospitalisation in February, the 88-year-old Pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, had what was then just a bad case of bronchitis.
The infection progressed into a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia that has sidelined Francis for the longest period of his 12-year papacy and raised questions about the future.
He has remained in stable condition for more than a week, with no fever, respiratory crises and good oxygen levels in his blood for several days, doctors reported.
The doctors said that such stability was in itself a posit
But they kept his prognosis as guarded, meaning that he is not out of danger.
Doctors were expected to provide a medical update later on Monday.
On Thursday, the Vatican will mark the 12th anniversary of Francis’ election, the first with the Pope out of sight but still very much in charge.
Francis was elected the 266th pope, the first Jesuit pope and first from Latin America, on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
On Sunday, Francis met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the chief of staff, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, for the third time at the hospital.
Such meetings are the routine way the Pope governs, and shows Francis is still keeping up with essential business.
Francis has been using high flows of supplemental oxygen to help him breathe during the day and a non-invasive mechanical ventilation mask at night.
