A woman walks past a picture of Pope John Paul II ahead of a prayer for Pope Francis at the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Candles are left at the foot of a marble monument of late Pope John Paul II outside Rome's Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic where Pope Francis is being treated for pneumonia, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Nuns pray for Pope Francis in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic,

A woman takes a photo of a statue of Pope John Paul II in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, where Pope Francis has been hospitalized since Friday,

The statue of Pope John Paul II is backdropped by the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic where Pope Francis is hospitalised in Rome, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photographer's shadows are cast on a marble statue of late Pope John Paul II outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome where Pope Francis is being treated for pneumonia, Thursday,

In all, John Paul II was in the Gemelli on that second occasion in 1981 from June 20 to August 14, a robust total of 55 days in the hospital.

The Vatican says Pope Francis has continued making decisions and is improving, but his two-week hospital stay poses uncomfortable, unanswered questions about Vatican decision-making.

Pope Francis is sitting upright and receiving therapy for double pneumonia while he remains in critical condition.

On Wednesday, the Vatican said Pope Francis “had a tranquil night, woke up and had breakfast,” saying he was in good spirits.

A special meeting of Cardinals has reportedly been scheduled, though the Vatican denies that it is linked to any announcement of the 88-year-old pontiff stepping down. Still, others ask why the Pope hasn't at least appeared from his hospital window.

Rome's Gemelli hospital, where Pope Francis is being treated for pneumonia, is the favoured choice of pontiffs — to the point of being dubbed "Vatican III" by John Paul II. The 88-year-old Francis is on his fourth stay at the Gemelli since 2021.