Pope Francis had a good night in hospital in Rome, the Vatican said on Thursday morning, where he is being treated for pneumonia. "The night passed quietly; the pope is still resting," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement.

Francis remained in stable condition, with a guarded prognosis, meaning he was not out of danger, the Vatican said.

The Vatican has not announced Pope Francis is resigning, contrary to online claims. Further, his successor would be elected by Cardinals, not Francis.

The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season leading to Easter on Wednesday without the participation of Pope Francis, who was in the third week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia.

Health concerns surrounding Pope Francis have intensified as he remains hospitalized in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. While the Vatican reports his condition as “stable,” ongoing respiratory complications pose a serious risk.

Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope and one of the oldest popes in the Roman Catholic Church's history, has served as pope since 2013

As Catholics around the world celebrated the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, congregants in Nigeria took a moment to pray for the well-being of Pope Francis, who has been undergoing treatment due to health challenges.