Pope Francis has shown a “further, slight improvement” as the 88-year-old remains in hospital with pneumonia, the Vatican has said.
A CT scan of the pontiff’s chest “showed a normal evolution” of the inflammation in his lungs, the Vatican said in its evening update on Wednesday, while the “mild kidney insufficiency”, which was diagnosed on Sunday, had “resolved”.
“The clinical condition of the holy father in the last 24 hours has shown a further, slight improvement,” the statement said without specifying whether his condition remained critical.
However, his doctors’ prognosis remains guarded.
Francis is spending his 13th night at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he is said to be eating normally and fulfilling some work duties. A Vatican official said he had been inundated with letters and cards wishing him well.
Nightly prayer vigils for the pope’s health are continuing to take place at St Peter’s basilica, in towns and cities across Italy and abroad.
Vigils have also been held outside the Gemelli, which has long been the preferred hospital for pontiffs.
Francis was admitted to hospital on 14 February and was subsequently diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and pneumonia in both lungs.
He is prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed while he was training to be a priest in his native Argentina.
The pope has suffered from ill health in recent years. He was admitted to hospital in March 2023 for what was eventually diagnosed as pneumonia. He also underwent a colon operation in June 2021. The pontiff has often been seen using a wheelchair or a walking stick as a result of sciatic nerve pain and a knee problem.
Before his hospital admission, the pope maintained an intense schedule, especially with events related to the Catholic jubilee year.
