Pope Francis was hospitalized on Feb. 14 after suffering a bout of bronchitis for weeks and after increasingly finding it hard to speak publicly.

March 13 (UPI) -- Pope Francis marked the 12th year of his pontificate Thursday while still recovering from lung infection. The anniversary is a public holiday at the Vatican but no events were planned to celebrate the occasion. Francis' condition was described as "stationary" Wednesday as the Vatican said he had been improving.

On the occasion of the 12th anniversary of his election to the papacy, Pope Francis received hundreds of drawings, messages, and letters from children and well-wishers worldwide.