Time-honored rituals, drafted and refined over centuries, allow time for mourning and provide order at a dramatic moment of transition.

With Pope Francis entering his fourth week in hospital, those working in the Apostolic Palace are grappling with the continuing uncertainty over the pope’s health. The same is true for everyone in the Vatican.

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.

The Holy See Press Office said the pontiff has shown "a good response to the therapies." He was hospitalized on Feb. 14 for a case of bronchitis.

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

Pope Francis spent another night in hospital without any new complications, the Vatican said on Monday morning. "The pope had a quiet night and is resting," said the brief statement. No further details were provided on the 88-year-old pontiff's current condition.

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Pope Francis remains in the hospital despite his improving health. For the fourth consecutive Sunday, his reflections on the Angelus prayer will be shared with the public. Pope Francis has been unable to personally appear at the window of the Gemelli Polyclinic to greet the faithful.