Pope Francis’ health shows ‘slight improvement’ as he has ‘resumed work,’ Vatican says

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Crowds gather in St. Peter’s Square to pray for Pope Francis

Fox News chief religion correspondent Lauren Green reports the latest on Pope Francis’ health as he remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Pope Francis’ health showed a “slight improvement” Monday as he “resumed work” at the hospital and called a priest at a parish in the Gaza Strip, the Vatican announced. 

“The clinical conditions of the Holy Father in their criticality show a slight improvement. Even today, there were no episodes of asthmatic respiratory crises; some laboratory tests have improved,” the Vatican said in a statement. “Monitoring of the mild renal insufficiency does not cause concern. Oxygen therapy continues, although with slightly reduced flows and percentage of oxygen. 

“The doctors, considering the complexity of the clinical picture, prudentially do not yet release the prognosis,” the statement added. “In the morning, he received the Eucharist, while in the afternoon he resumed work. 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.”

The update comes after the Vatican announced earlier in the day that daily evening prayers for the health of Pope Francis will be held at St. Peter’s Square.

POPE FRANCIS RESTING ON DAY 10 IN HOSPITAL 

St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Oct. 20, 2024. (AP/Andrew Medichini)

The Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, is set to lead the first prayer this evening. 

Pope Francis, 88, spent his 10th day at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital Monday for a complex lung infection that has led to the early stages of kidney insufficiency, according to the Vatican. 

Francis was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently the onset of pneumonia in both lungs. 

Late Sunday, doctors said blood tests revealed “early, slight kidney insufficiency” but that it remained under control. The doctors said Francis remained in critical condition but had not experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday evening. 

POPE FRANCIS SHARES WRITTEN MESSAGE WHILE CONTINUING HOSPITALIZATION 

Raindrops are seen on candles adorned with a picture of Pope Francis outside the hospital in Rome, Italy, where he is being treated, on Monday, Feb. 24. (AP/Gregorio Borgia)

At the Gemelli hospital, Bishop Claudio GiulioDori presided over an emotional, standing-room-only Mass in the St. John Paul II Chapel – named for the former pope – according to the Associated Press. 

Some of the estimated 200 people who attended were in white doctor coats or green surgical scrubs, the AP reported. 

Faithful participating in the Jubilee arrive on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square, where they were supposed to say the Angelus prayer with Pope Francis, who was admitted to Gemelli Hospital over a week ago. (AP/Alessandra Tarantino)

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“We are very sorry. Pope Francis is a good pope, let’s hope that he makes it. Let us hope,” Filomena Ferraro, who was visiting a relative at Gemelli on Monday, told the AP. “We are joining him with our prayers, but what else can we do?” 

Fox News’ Thomas Ferraro, Landon Mion and the Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.