Pope tweets his appreciation for hospital kind wishes while receiving treatment for a respiratory illness

Pope Francis has acknowledged the many well-wishes he has received while being treated in a Rome hospital for a respiratory infection. In his first tweet acknowledging his illness, Francis said he was touched by the many messages received and expressed gratitude for the closeness and prayer. The Vatican said that Francis' health is "progressively improving" and he is working from the hospital. The Church of Rome expressed its closeness and affection to its Bishop Pope Francis and wished him a speedy recovery. Bishops in churches across Italy are praying for Francis' speedy recovery, the Presidency of the Italian Episcopal Conference said in a statement on Wednesday.

The pontiff has had a recent history of medical issues. Pope Francis has often been seen with a walking stick and sometimes uses a wheelchair due to pain in his right knee. He also suffers from diverticulitis, a common condition that can cause the inflammation or infection of the colon. In December, Francis revealed that he had already signed his resignation letter to be used in the event of him becoming “impaired.” He wrote the letter several years ago and gave it to then-Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who resigned in 2013. Francis said past pontiffs Paul VI and Pious XII had also drafted their letters of renunciation in the event of a permanent impairment.

In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI made the almost unprecedented decision to resign from his position, citing “advanced age” as the reason and startling the Catholic world. The last pope to step down before his death was Gregory XII, who in 1415 quit to end a civil war within the church.