Eleven days after the pope was hospitalized, speculation is mounting and prayers for his recovery verge on a vigil.

Pope Francis, battling double pneumonia, remains in critical condition for the fourth day running but is stable and has not had any further respiratory crises, the Vatican said on Tuesday. The 88-year-old pope was spending his 12th night at Rome's Gemelli hospital,

Pope Francis remains in “critical” but stable condition, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said on Tuesday, adding that the 88-year-old did not have any “acute respiratory episodes” and had a scheduled CT scan to monitor his pneumonia.