Pope Francis 'resumes some work' as test results 'improved' and slight kidney failure 'not cause for concern'

Yesterday, Pope Francis remained in critical condition but had not endured any "further respiratory crises", the Vatican confirmed.

In a statement on Monday evening, the Vatican said: "The clinical conditions of the Holy Father, in their critical state, show a slight improvement."

They revealed that the head of the Catholic Church did not suffer from any episodes of asthmatic respiratory crises as "some laboratory tests improved".

The monitoring of mild renal failure does not signal "cause for concern" as doctors continue with oxygen therapy with a "slightly reduced flow and oxygen percentage".

"The doctors, considering the complexity of the clinical picture, are prudently not releasing the prognosis yet. In the morning he received the Eucharist, while in the afternoon he resumed work activity," they revealed.

"In the evening he called the Parish Priest of the Parish of Gaza to express his paternal closeness. Pope Francis thanks all the people of God who have gathered in these days to pray for his health," Vatican officials added.

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This morning, the Vatican said that "the night went well" and that the Pope was resting.

They added that he was in good spirits and was eating normally.

The Roman pontiff was first admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on February 14 after he suffered from breathing difficulties and was subsequently treated for bronchitis until he was diagnosed with pneumonia in both of his lungs.

As a result of the "complexity of the clinical picture", the Vatican "prudently" did not release a prognosis.

Cardinals have planned to congregate outside St Peter's Basilica in Rome to pray for Pope Francis and recite the rosary.

The evening prayers will be conducted alongside members of the curia, as well as clergymen belonging to the Diocese of Rome, at 9pm.

In the past, the bishop of Rome has been susceptible to pneumonia since suffering from pleurisy, which is an inflammation of the lungs, when he was younger which led him to undergo a partial lung removal.

Previously, he was treated for bronchitis at the Roman hospital in the spring of 2023.