ROME and LONDON -- Pope Francis ' clinical condition remains "stable" on Sunday, the Vatican said, as the pontiff continues to be hospitalized for the 17th consecutive day.

The Argentine pope, a known workaholic who keeps up a grueling pace despite his many ailments, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. It was his fourth hospitalization since his 2013 election and raised questions about his increasingly precarious health.

The newly-appointed Archbishop of Johannesburg, Cardinal Stephen Brislin, led dozens of South African Catholic worshippers in a prayer service on Sunday dedicated to Pope Francis's health and recovery as he battles double pneumonia.

Pope Francis remained in stable condition and did not need any mechanical ventilation on Sunday, the Vatican said. It was a sign that his respiratory function was improving as he continues his recovery from double pneumonia and a respiratory crisis.

Afro-Cuban faithful held a spiritual celebration on Saturday as they prayed for the health of Pope Francis. (AP video shot by: Milexsy Durán and Ariel Fernández)

In an extraordinary intervention, Pope Francis also took aim at Vice President JD Vance's theological justification for the deportation program.