With Pope Francis entering his fourth week in hospital, those working in the Apostolic Palace are grappling with the continuing uncertainty over the pope’s health. The same is true for everyone in the Vatican.

As Pope Francis remains hospitalised, questions arise about who governs the Vatican in his absence. While the pontiff holds supreme authority, the Roman Curia — his bureaucratic body — plays a crucial role.

In his absence, the Vatican’s day-to-day operations continued, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrating Mass for an anti-abortion group in St Peter’s Basilica