Pope Francis, spending his seventh day in hospital as he battles pneumonia, is alert and got out of bed to eat breakfast on Thursday morning, the Vatican said. The 88-year-old pontiff is undergoing treatment at Rome's Gemelli Hospital,

Pope Francis was admitted on Friday with a respiratory infection. The announcement on Monday did not provide further detail, but raised fresh concerns about the pontiff’s health.

In a brief note to journalists Feb. 18, the Vatican said, "Due to the Holy Father's health condition," his appointments had been canceled through Feb. 22.