Pontiff, 88, remains stable and received communion in hospital as Catholics marked beginning of Lent

Pope Francis remained in a stable condition on his 20th day in hospital with pneumonia, sitting in an armchair to do some work and receiving communion and an Ash Wednesday cross on his forehead as Catholics around the world marked the beginning of Lent.

In its latest update, the Vatican said the 88-year-old pontiff had not suffered any new respiratory crises and had been given oxygen through a nasal tube. It said that after the Ash Wednesday rites, Francis had set to work and made his usual call to the parish priest of Gaza.