Pope Francis is continuing his recovery from pneumonia in hospital and has resumed some work, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.
The 88-year-old pontiff, who has been hospitalized since February 14, has shown signs of improvement, though doctors remain cautious given his age and medical history.
In a brief update on Tuesday morning the Vatican said: “The pope rested well all night.” This followed Monday’s report from his medical team, which noted a “slight improvement” in his condition and revealed that he had resumed work from his hospital room.
In one of his first acts since falling ill, Francis reached out to a parish in Gaza City, continuing his efforts to maintain communication amid the ongoing conflict there.
Pope Francis’ hospitalization has prompted an outpouring of prayers from Catholics worldwide. His illness comes at a crucial time for the Vatican, as he has been a central figure in global peace efforts and church reforms, and it raises concerns about a leadership crisis if the pope were to fall unconscious or be too sick to govern.
The Argentine pope, who had part of a lung removed in his youth, has faced multiple health challenges in recent years.
Thousands gathered in a rain-soaked St. Peter’s Square on Monday night for the first of nightly Rosary recitations to pray for the pope. The event evoked memories of the vigils held in 2005 when Pope John Paul II was in his final days. However, church leaders emphasized that this gathering was focused on recovery rather than farewell.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, led the prayers, stating, “Starting this evening, we want to unite ourselves publicly to this prayer here, in his house,” referring to the Vatican. He urged the faithful to continue their prayers for Francis’ swift recovery.
Doctors have expressed cautious optimism, reporting that his oxygen support has been slightly reduced and that a detected kidney insufficiency is not currently causing alarm. However, they emphasized that his prognosis remains uncertain due to his underlying lung condition.
The nightly vigils will continue indefinitely, with Catholic leaders around the world encouraging the faithful to join in prayer with the Vatican not providing a timeline for Francis’ discharge from the hospital and return to public duties.
