‘Slight improvement’ in Pope’s condition, Vatican says | World News

The Pope’s condition is showing a “further, slight improvement”, the Vatican has said.

In its latest update on the 88-year-old pontiff, the Vatican said a mild kidney insufficiency that had developed days ago has now receded.

It stressed, however, that, “although there is a slight improvement, the prognosis remains reserved”.

The Pope has been at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since 14 February and is being treated for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.

A CT chest scan taken on Tuesday evening showed the “normal evolution” of pneumonia as it is being treated. Blood tests have confirmed an improvement.

Francis returned to work in the afternoon after receiving the Eurcharist in the morning, the Vatican added.

The Pope is still eating normally and talking with doctors and aides, Vatican sources said. On Tuesday, he met Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, the so-called Vatican “substitute” or chief of staff.

Over the weekend, the pontiff suffered a “prolonged respiratory crisis” that required a high flow of oxygen.

The Vatican said in its latest bulletin that the Pope was continuing the high-flow oxygen therapy – but added that “today too he has not presented asthmatic respiratory crises”.

Doctors have previously said the condition of the Argentine pontiff, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility, and pre-existing lung disease before the pneumonia set in.

Francis has previously said he has written a letter of resignation, in case he becomes medically incapacitated.

Thousands of people have gathered in St Peter’s Square for the past few evenings to pray for the Pope’s recovery. Others have descended on the Gemelli hospital to be closer to Pope Francis.

They have been lighting candles and leaving him cards and gifts at the statue of St John Paul II near the entrance.