The nuns who operate the Vatican’s switchboard are fielding a growing number of calls. Many want to know how Pope Francis doing, and some ask to speak with him as the head of the Catholic Church remains hospitalized in Rome.

The nuns who operate the Vatican's switchboard are fielding a growing number of calls while the pope is in the hospital.

Pope Francis is improving but still requires various in-hospital therapies, the Vatican said Saturday, even as it revealed the 88-year-old pontiff had laid plans to extend his years-long Synod process

Pope Francis remains under the care of doctors, nurses and other staff at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment for bilateral pneumonia since Feb. 14. This week was a pivotal one for the Pope,