Pope Francis entered the fifth week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia on Saturday very much looking ahead as he continued work on a signature priority of his papacy and signs of his recovery remained on a positive trajectory.

The 88-year-old pope has remained stable, with no fever and good oxygen levels in his blood for several days, doctors said.

Pope Francis’ condition “continues to be stable,” and “the recovery process is slow and requires time for the consolidation of the improvements [that have been] recorded in recent days,” the Vatican said at 7 p.