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00:00The mood music from the Vatican remained positive.
00:03Pope Francis had a peaceful night's sleep, read the papers,
00:06and ate breakfast when he woke up from his fourth night in hospital.
00:10The proof that despite his respiratory infection, he is still breathing on his own.
00:15But his aides have extended his recovery period, clearing his diary, until the start of next week.
00:22Life goes on in Rome, and tourists still flock to the Vatican City.
00:28I wish for him a speedy recovery, and that he will have many strong years left in him.
00:33I feel very sorry for him.
00:35We hope he will get better soon and recover.
00:41But speculation is swirling around Gemelli Hospital.
00:45Aged 88, Pope Francis has been in a wheelchair since 2022,
00:49and this is his fourth hospitalisation in four years.
00:53He has remained an extremely active Pope,
00:55and completed his longest ever international tour last September.
00:59But could this be the illness that forces Pope Francis to re-evaluate?
01:04To what extent can he delegate his duties?
01:10The Church is equipped to face a vacant seat due to death.
01:13The Church has experience with Benedict to face a vacant seat due to resignation.
01:18But the real objective question is
01:20whether the Church is capable of facing a pontificate that continues with a Pope who needs a lot of help.
01:28Pope Francis lauded his predecessor's courage when Pope Benedict XVI broke precedent
01:33by stepping aside in his lifetime,
01:35but has fended off suggestions that he might do the same.