As Pope Francis has battled double pneumonia in hospital for nearly three weeks, talk of the 88-year-old pontiff's death or resignation has become almost commonplace. Some newspapers have published articles informing their readers about what to expect during the papal funeral.

The frail 88-year-old Catholic leader suffered further setbacks in what has become a more than two-week battle to overcome a complex respiratory infection.

Pope Francis has not been seen in public since entering the hospital, his longest absence from view since his papacy started in March 2013.