Pope Francis Participating in Vatican’s Spiritual Retreat From Hospital While Recovering from Pneumonia

Pope Francis is taking part in a spiritual retreat organized by the Vatican as he continues to recover from double pneumonia in a Rome hospital. This retreat coincides with the approach of the 12th anniversary of his papal election, a time when speculation about the future of his papacy is heightened.

Unable to physically attend the retreat, Francis joined via videoconference on Sunday. Although he could see and hear Rev. Roberto Pasolini, the preacher leading the retreat, those present in the Vatican auditorium were unable to see or hear the Pope.

Pasolini’s meditation focused on the theme of “The hope of eternal life,” a topic selected prior to Francis being hospitalized on Feb. 14 due to a severe lung infection. Despite his absence, the spiritual engagement of the retreat continues to provide support and reflection for Pope Francis.

The retreat, which is an annual gathering that kicks off the Catholic Church’s solemn Lenten season leading to Easter, continues through the week. The Vatican has said Francis would participate “in spiritual communion” with the rest of the hierarchy, from afar.

In its early update Monday, the Vatican said Francis was resting after a quiet night.

At the time of his hospitalization last month, 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 now remained in stable condition for over 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 positive thing and showed he was responding well to therapy. But they kept his prognosis as “guarded,” meaning that he’s not out of danger. Doctors were expected to provide a medical update later 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.

While Francis has previously praised Benedict for his courage and humility in resigning, he has indicated more recently that he believes the job of pope is for life and said as recently as last year that he had no plans of stepping down.

Francis has been using high flows of supplemental oxygen to help him breathe during the day and a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask at night.