The world has been watching the Vatican closely for news about Pope Francis. He's been hospitalized since February 14, fighting bronchitis, double pneumonia, and 'mild' renal failure. The prognosis is touch-and-go, it seems.

This morning, an update said he was well enough to meet with another official to do some work.

But even Politico reported a while ago that Francis thinks he's not going to rebound from this latest respiratory illness. He's battled lung issues for most of his adult life and has only half a right lung because an illness required the removal of at least one lobe from that lung.

Speculation about who will take over the Holy See when Francis does pass abounds. The list of names includes several cardinals and bishops (although, technically, any Catholic male can be named pope).

Conservatives -- this writer included -- are hoping for a pope more friendly to traditionalists, something Francis has failed to do.

Liberals, on the other hand, are afraid of that very thing happening:

Not even Catholic? Then everything else is disqualifying.

This is a fair point. We'd settled for a pope who didn't call priests who say the Latin Mass 'mentally ill.'

He also said women will never, can never, be priests.

Yes.

We'd be okay with this.

Given the recent mass murder of Catholics in the Congo, it might be a pope from Africa.

Then the Left would really lose their minds.

The gif made this writer chuckle.

Totally based.

Nailed it.