Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, who heads the Vatican’s doctrinal office, has dismissed speculation about Pope Francis’ potential retirement.

He made known that the Pointiff was regaining his strength while hospitalized but must “relearn to speak” after prolonged use of high-flow oxygen therapy.

According to MSN report, Fernandez affirmed that Francis was returning to his usual self, adding that the pope was doing very well, but the high-flow oxygen had dried everything out.

“He needs to relearn how to speak, but his overall physical condition is as it was before,” Fernandez stated during a presentation of a new book by the pope on poetry.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized for five weeks due to double pneumonia, the report said adding that since his admission, the Vatican has provided limited updates on his condition, with just one brief audio release on March 6, in which his voice sounded broken, breathless, and difficult to understand.

The Vatican’s latest health update, released on Friday, reported “minor improvements in breathing and mobility” while confirming that Francis had not required mechanical ventilation, the report said.

He added that he has been receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula for much of the time.

There is still no official indication of when the pope might be discharged and return to the Vatican.

Fernandez admitted uncertainty over whether he would be released in time for Easter, which falls on April 20.

“He could return, but the doctors want to be 100 per cent sure because he believes that with the little time he has left, he wants to dedicate himself entirely to others, not to himself,” Fernandez remarked.

When asked if the pope might step down, the cardinal firmly dismissed the notion.

“I really don’t think so, no,” he said.

Meanwhile, MSN report contained Pope Francis has suffered several health setbacks over the past two years and remains vulnerable to lung infections, a consequence of the pleurisy he endured as a young adult, which led to the partial removal of one lung.

He suffered from severe pneumonia, leading to the removal of part of one lung.

In 2021, he underwent surgery to remove part of his colon due to diverticulitis, a condition that causes intestinal inflammation and infection.

In 2023, he was hospitalised with bronchitis. In recent months, the Pope suffered two falls, resulting in a bruised chin and an arm injury, which required him to wear a sling.

Given his fragile health and history of recurrent infections, doctors are being extra cautious in their approach to his current treatment. This is the second-longest hospitalisation of Pope Francis since he took office, and it has become the longest hospital stay of his tenure.

On Pope Francis missing Angelus prayer, it was only the third time in his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis missed the weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday, February 23.

Instead, his sermon was written to the press, expressing gratitude to doctors, nurses, and caregivers.