Critically ill Pope ‘slept well’, Vatican says, as thousands unite in prayer - The 88-year-old has now been in hospital for 11 days

Despite his ongoing hospitalization for treatment of what the Vatican has said is a polymicrobial respiratory infection, Pope Francis has continued calling the Catholic parish in Gaza nightly, its pastor has said.

Even while Pope Francis is hospitalized, he still keeps in touch with a Roman Catholic parish in Gaza City, making near-nightly phone calls to the priest and congregation there.

The Vatican said Pope Francis remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work.

Pope Francis sent a message from the hospital after Vatican officials encouraged him to make his voice heard despite his health struggles

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis, hospitalized in critical condition with double pneumonia, was well enough to meet with the Vatican secretary of state to approve new decrees for saints and call a formal meeting to set the dates for their canonization, the Vatican said Tuesday.

Pope Francis showed slight improvement in laboratory tests Monday and resumed some work activities, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis showed slight improvement in laboratory tests Monday and resumed some work activities, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis continues to call Gaza’s Holy Family parish every night, despite battling pneumonia, to offer prayers and support. He has been vocal about the crisis in Gaza. With no clear progress in ceasefire talks,

Pope Francis remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement and resumed some work activities

The 88-year-old Francis, suffering from pneumonia in both lungs, hadn’t had any more respiratory crises, officials said.