Francis, 88, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that developed into double pneumonia.

The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis couldn't celebrate Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent outside the hospital.

Ailing Pope Francis's condition is "stable" and he has not suffered a fresh breathing crisis, the Vatican said Thursday, as the 88-year-old nears three weeks in hospital with pneumonia. "The clinical conditions of the Holy Father have remained stable compared to the previous days",