Vice President J.D. Vance led a prayer for Pope Francis and said Catholics shouldn't let political disputes hurt faith in religious leaders.

The latest statement suggests that the 88-year-old is able to sit in his chair, eat normally and do what the Vatican calls "light work".

Pope Francis, who is hospitalized in critical condition with double pneumonia, has named a new archbishop for Vancouver. The Vancouver archdiocese says the Pope appointed Archbishop Richard Smith, who has been serving in Edmonton,

The pope is receiving occasional supplements of oxygen when he needs it and is responding to the strengthened drug therapy he is receiving, they said.

Pope Francis, battling double pneumonia in hospital for two weeks, had an "isolated breathing crisis" on Friday and received "non-invasive mechanical ventilation" to help him breathe, the Vatican said in a statement.

The pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, is still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen to help remove fluid from his lungs.

Like his predecessors, Pope Francis was selected using an age-old method -- a system known as the Papal conclave.

Jesus, who weeps with us, will sow in our hearts all the answers we seek,' the Pope wrote to Cinzia, whose son Fabrizio went out one evening in October 2019 and never returned home.

In this a crucifix is seen as Pope Francis leads his general audience from his library in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) For those who recognize Christ as the savior,

Pope Francis’ complex respiratory infection isn't life-threatening but he's not out of danger, his medical team said Friday, as the 88-year-old pontiff marked his first week in the hospital battling pneumonia in both lungs — along with bacterial,