The Pontiff was admitted to hospital in Rome last week.

The leader of the Catholic Church was taken to Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic last Friday after being diagnosed with bronchitis the week prior.

Over the weekend, that diagnosis was updated to bilateral pneumonia, and all of his engagements at the Vatican were cancelled.

Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press office, said Pope Francis was in good spirits and was grateful for people’s prayers.

He added: "The Holy Father's clinical condition is stable, and the blood tests, evaluated by the medical staff, show a slight improvement, particularly in the inflammatory indices." 

It is not the first health scare that Pope Francis has had. In the recent past, he has suffered from influenza along with other health complications.

The Vatican have described his health condition as “a complex picture.”

Bilateral pneumonia can cause problems with breathing, after causing inflammation and scarring of the lungs.

It remains unclear as to how long Pope Francis will remain in hospital, with one Vatican spokesperson saying that he would require an “adequate” stay.

Now, Swiss newspaper Blick claims that the Swiss Guard is rehearsing his funeral, with members under a curfew as they are 'preparing for the pontiff's death'.

According to reports from Politico, two people close to the pontiff have claimed Francis told them that he 'might not make it this time'.

They have reportedly said that Pope Francis is now acting entirely on "doctor's orders".

Perhaps cognizant of his limited time, the Pope has in recent weeks moved to 'tie up loose ends' and ensure the continuation of his legacy at a politically sensitive time for the Catholic Church.  

On 6 February, before he was hospitalised, he extended the term of the Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of the College of Cardinals - a role that will oversee some preparations for a potential conclave, the secretive gathering that determines the selection of a new pope.

The move, which controversially sidestepped a scheduled vote on the next dean by top cardinals, was intended to ensure that the process plays out according to Francis’s wishes.