Pope Francis' recent hospitalization drew calls for prayers across the Catholic community worldwide.

"Please join me in praying for our Holy Father's health," Bishop James Wall of the Diocese of Gallup tweeted. 

After a few days in the hospital with breathing difficulties, the pontiff was recently released. Pope Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Wednesday, March 29, and underwent testing, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said. His release was on Saturday, April 1. 

Matteo Bruni, a Vatican spokesperson, said that Pope Francis, who is 86 years old, had not contracted COVID-19. The pope was treated for breathing difficulties before the tests began, CBS News said in a report. 

Even before the decision to take the pope to the hospital, the Vatican canceled scheduled appearances late last week because they anticipated the need for medical tests. 

The Vatican did not initially confirm how the pope was transported to the hospital. Several Italian media outlets and a Rome correspondent for an Argentine newspaper reported that he was taken there by ambulance, the USCCB said. 

There had been some doubt about whether the pope would be well enough to preside over the Vatican's Holy Week observances, which started on Palm Sunday. After being released Saturday, though, he deemed himself fit enough to attend Palm Sunday Mass, presiding over the liturgies. A cardinal celebrated at the altar, Catholic News Agency reported.

Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday will round out one of the busiest weeks on the liturgical calendar.

Catholic News Agency reported that Pope Francis would begin Holy Thursday with a Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at 9:30 a.m. in the presence of cardinals, bishops and priests living in Rome. A Mass will follow that at the juvenile detention center "Casal del Marmo."