Pope Francis has been at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome for 18 days, having been admitted due to acute bronchitis that developed into bilateral pneumonia. Despite the challenging situation, there is a sense of calm and hope for the pope's recovery at the Vatican,

Instead, the Vatican distributed a message from the pope in which he thanked his doctors for their care and well-wishers for their prayers. He said he was living his hospitalization as an experience of profound solidarity with people who are sick and suffering everywhere.

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis was in stable condition and resting on Sunday as he continued his recovery from double pneumonia, but again skipped his weekly noon blessing to avoid even a brief public appearance.