Despite Pope Francis remaining hospitalized in Rome, the pontiff is still very much in charge of the Catholic Church. Still, Francis' hospital stay is raising obvious questions about what happens if he loses consciousness for a prolonged period or whether he might follow in Pope Benedict XVI's footsteps and resign if he becomes unable to lead.

THE Pope wrote his resignation letter 12 years ago in case he became too ill to fulfil the holy role as he remains in a ‘critical’ state in hospital. The Pontiff has spent 10 nights in