Vatican City, Nov 12, 2020 / 07:30 am (CNA).- Pope Francis made a phone call this week to check in on an Italian cardinal who is in a serious condition as he battles COVID-19 after more than a week in intensive care.

Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, president of the Italian bishops’ conference and archbishop of Perugia, was hospitalized Oct. 31 after testing positive for the coronavirus.