Pope Francis’ condition “continues to be stable,” and “the recovery process is slow and requires time for the consolidation of the improvements [that have been] recorded in recent days,” the Vatican said at 7 p.

A Mass was held in St. Peter's Basilica Friday in honor of Pope Francis as the 88-year-old marked two milestones this week: his 12-year anniversary as pontiff and the one-month mark since he was hospitalized for ongoing treatment of a respiratory infection.

Pope Francis has marked the 12th anniversary of his pontificate in the hospital as he received increasingly positive medical news on his recovery and hundreds of messages wishing him well. The pope spent the morning in physiotherapy,