The Vatican’s central number is public — and the sisters of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master make sure all who call it get a real person, not the “press 1 for English, 2 for Latin” version of the automation that’s become the norm at major institutions and businesses worldwide.

The nuns who operate the Vatican's switchboard are fielding a growing number of calls while the pope is in the hospital.

The Vatican released on Sunday the first photo of Pope Francis in more than a month. Pope Francis, 88, is facing health challenges. The leader of the Catholic church has been recovering from pneumonia,