Dozens of children toting yellow and white balloons have gathered outside Rome’s Gemelli hospital to greet Pope Francis on his fifth week hospitalized with double pneumonia.

Pope Francis, who has been seriously ill for weeks, has expressed his compassion to all those who are unwell, according to a transcript published by the Holy See on Sunday. "I am going through a time of trial,

Pope Francis acknowledged being fragile and "facing a period of trial", as he thanked well-wishers Sunday for prayers in a message from hospital, where he has been slowly recovering from

Pope Francis has approved a new three-year reform process for the Catholic Church, sending a strong signal he plans to continue in the post despite spending a month in hospital battling pneumonia.

Pope Francis has entered the fifth week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia very much looking ahead as he worked on a signature priority of his papacy.