Pope Francis is in good humour and is recovering well according to his close advisers despite toxic conspiracy theories circulating which claim the ailing pontiff is really dead.
The 88-year-old has spent almost five weeks in Romes Gemelli Hospital after a complex lung infection turned into pneumonia in both lungs but is recovering well, according to two of his closest advisers.
Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, Vatican Chief of staff, said he found Francis in good humour and serene during the three times he has visited him in hospital.
And Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the only other Vatican official to have visited him aside from his personal secretaries, said: The pope is recovering well. The doctors say that he needs some time, but its going well progressively.
I found him well, serene, in good humour, and - just like him - tough with the desire to go forward, he said.
It comes as a wave of bizarre conspiracy theories have circulated online claiming that Pope Francis is really dead.
Italian social media users have flooded platforms with wild suggestions that the leader of the Catholic Church is dead and that the papal deep state is hiding the news.
Some have even claimed that the Vatican is using doctored audio of his voice to fool the public.
Pope Francis is in good humour and is recovering well according to his close advisers
The Pope concelebrates Holy Mass in the chapel of the Gemelli hospital in Rome on Sunday
The 88-year-old has spent almost five weeks in Romes Gemelli Hospital after a complex lung infection turned into pneumonia in both lungs
The Pope sounded breathless as he delivered a brief message in his native Spanish earlier this month. He expressed thanks from the bottom of my heart to well-wishers around the world who have offered their support.
But in an appearance outside a shopping mall, Italian media personality Fabrizio Corona proclaimed: He is really dead.
The audio is fake. Its done with artificial intelligence.
Some accounts have also claimed that the photo of the pontiff shared by the Vatican on Sunday were either old or AI-generated.
Others have descended on the hospital itself to try and garner evidence for their outlandish theories.
Simone Basile, also known as The 8th King of Rome, has racked up millions of TikTok views during three trips to the hospital.
Leaving the hospital on Tuesday, he said: Its an unmistakable sign that he is no longer.
Another influencer, Er Bombolino, peered through hospital windows in one of his videos while questioning whether the pope is dead or alive.
Well wishers and Catholic faithful have gathered at St. Peters Square to pray for the Popes health
A wave of bizarre conspiracy theories have circulated online claiming that Pope Francis is really dead
Roman Catholic cardinals have since issued desperate calls to free ourselves from much fake news as rumours continue to spread, despite the church issuing regular updates on the Popes condition.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said: They say we, the Roman Curia, keep Francis frozen so that we can do our scheming.
He suggested that the Vaticans efforts to be more transparent than ever about the Popes health, which have involved regular public updates, have not stemmed accusations of a cover-up on social media.
Cardinal Ravasi added: Its the first time that they are saying the raw truth about the popes condition. It doesnt work. Its a toxic atmosphere.
Vatican officials are also privately discussing the fake reports, according to the New York Times.
The Vatican press office today said that Franciss condition remained stable with slight improvement as he continues respiratory and physical physiotherapy.
He no longer requires a mechanical ventilation mask at night and is continuing to reduce his reliance on high-flow supplemental oxygen he has needed to breathe during the day.
The Vatican today said that Franciss condition remained stable with slight improvement as he continues respiratory and physical physiotherapy
One of Pope Franciss closest advisors said that doctors were keeping him at the hospital to be 100% and ruled out the Popes resignation
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, a friend of the Pope, today said that a new stage was opening in Franciss 12-year pontificate.
Cardinal Fernandez, an Argentine theologian whom Francis brought in as the Vaticans doctrine chief, said that he had been in touch with Francis since he was taken to hospital and was heartened that he had stabilised.
He said doctors were keeping him at the hospital to be 100% and ruled out Franciss resignation.
Cardinal Fernandez revealed that Francis had resisted going to hospital when his bronchitis worsened, and agreed to go only after people close to him threatened to resign if he did not.
I dont know what swearwords they used (to tell him) you have to go there, otherwise we go home and end our relationship here, he said.
I think a new stage is opening for him. He is a man of surprises, who will surely have learned so many things in this month and hell pull who knows what out of the hat, he said.