The Vatican, though, made alternative plans for Ash Wednesday next week, making clear Francis still had a long road ahead. Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, a Vatican official and former vicar of Rome, will preside over the March 5 ceremony and procession that inaugurates the church’s solemn Lenten season leading up to Easter in April.

Pope Francis, who has been in the hospital for just over two weeks fighting double pneumonia, is in a stable condition and has not had further breathing crises after a health setback the day before, the Vatican said on Saturday.