Pope Francis is participating in the Vatican’s weeklong spiritual retreat from a Rome hospital as he continued his recovery on Monday from double pneumonia and looks ahead to the 12th anniversary of his election amid questions about what the future of his papacy might look like.

Pope Francis is participating in the Vatican's Lenten retreat remotely from a Rome hospital as he recovers from double pneumonia, marking his longest health-related absence in 12 years.

Pope Francis is responding well to treatment for pneumonia after three weeks in hospital, the Vatican said Saturday, adding that the 88-year-old was showing "a gradual, slight improvement".

Pope Francis is showing a "good response" to his treatment in hospital for double pneumonia and his overall condition is gradually improving, the Vatican said on Saturday. Francis, 88, has been in Rome's Gemelli hospital for more than three weeks with a severe respiratory infection that has required continuously evolving treatment.

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis is showing a "good response" to his hospital treatment for double pneumonia and his overall condition is gradually improving, the Vatican said on Saturday. Francis, 88, has been in Rome's Gemelli hospital for more than three weeks with a severe respiratory infection that has required continuously evolving treatment.

"The night was quiet, the pope was resting," the Holy See, the Vatican's press office, said in a brief statement on Sunday morning.

The Vatican press office on Saturday described “a good response to therapy” and a “gradual, slight improvement” since the pope’s episodes of acute respiratory failure on Monday.