The Vatican has made alternative plans for Ash Wednesday next week, making clear Pope Francis still had a long road to recovery.

Pope Francis was resting Thursday after a peaceful night during his third week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia, the Vatican said. The pope has been sleeping with a

Christians will get one last nibble on their paczkis and king cakes as Mardi Gras and the Carnival Season give way to Ash Wednesday this week.

The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season leading to Easter on Wednesday without the participation of Pope Francis, who is in the third week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia.