AceShowbiz - Pope Francis has spent over a week at Rome's Gemelli hospital after being admitted on February 14 with bronchitis, which escalated into a complex respiratory infection and double pneumonia.

The Vatican has consistently provided cautiously optimistic updates, noting that while his heart functions well and he remains fever-free, recovery might be lengthy due to his fragile condition.

"The night went well, and this morning Pope Francis got up and had breakfast," the Vatican reported on Friday. Despite his hospitalization, Francis continues to work, meeting aides and even the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.

Nevertheless, the Pope's health crisis has prompted significant speculation about whether he might resign. Francis previously acknowledged that he penned a resignation letter shortly after his 2013 election, to be used in case severe illness impeded his duties.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi stated, "There is no question that if he was in a situation where his ability to have direct contact, as he likes to do, was compromised, then I think he might decide to resign."

Another cardinal, Jean-Marc Aveline, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that "everything is possible."

Historical precedence exists, as Pope Benedict XVI famously resigned in 2013 due to similar concerns about his capability to continue. However, Francis has often remarked that he viewed the papal role as a lifelong commitment, resigning only under exceptional circumstances.

As the world watches and prays, the Vatican stays focused on both the Pope's immediate recovery and the broader implications for the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

Should a conclave be necessary, the process of selecting a new Pope would involve secret discussions among cardinals, with voting in the Sistine Chapel until a consensus is reached, signified to the world by white smoke.