POPE Francis has to relearn how to speak again following his battle with double pneumonia.

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez gave an update on the Pontiff’s condition as he remains at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, after suffering severe breathing problems and being placed on a ventilator.

As Francis works to regain his strength and is said to be improving, the Cardinal confirmed that he will have to “relearn to speak”.

On Friday Fernandez said: “The Pope is doing very well, but high-flow oxygen dries everything out.

“He needs to relearn how to speak, but his overall physical condition is as it was before.”

The Cardinal also dismissed rumours of his retirement which have plagued the Holy See since the Pope’s hospital admission on February 14.

When speaking at the presentation of a new book by Francis on poetry, Fernandez was asked about if the 88-year-old would step down, to which he said: “I really don’t think so, no.”

“He could return, but the doctors want to be 100 per cent sure because he believes that with the little time he has left, he wants to dedicate himself entirely to others, not to himself,” he added.

The Pope has been in hospital for over a month, during which time he has suffered numerous health problems including kidney failure and numerous respiratory crises.

On Friday, the Vatican issued the latest update in his health saying that he was stable and showing “minor improvements in breathing and mobility”.

While no longer being on a mechanical ventilator, the Pope is receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula.

On March 6, the public was given a rare glimpse into his health battle with the release of a brief audio clip of him speaking from his sick bed.

In it, the Pontiff sounded breathless, with a frail and broken voice, and was difficult to understand.

Cardinal Fernandez admitted on Friday that the Pope still has a long road ahead, adding that it is not known when he might be discharged and allowed to return to the Vatican.

He noted that he did not know if it would be in time for Easter which is on April 20.

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