Pope Francis, who is suffering from double pneumonia, has had a better sleep and shows slight improvements according to the Vatican, with the latest update on Tuesday stating that he has resumed working from his hospital room.
His spirits have lifted somewhat as evidenced through the Vatican’s recent bulletin. He has also reached out to a church parish in Gaza City, which he has kept close ties with since the start of the war there.
Outside Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where the 88-year-old Pope was admitted on February 14th, supporters have left candles and photos in hope of his recovery.
Initially, the Pope was experiencing breathing difficulties and subsequently developed bronchitis, which has since become more severe. As a result, doctors have refrained from giving a definitive prediction of his prognosis due to the complexity of his condition.
Despite this, there has been no recurrence of respiratory distress since Saturday and the level of supplemental oxygen required has been slightly reduced.
In response to his condition, the Vatican has started a nightly chain of prayers, with hundreds of the faithful coming together on Monday evening in St Peter’s Square to pray for the Pope’s recovery, participating in a special prayer session led by cardinals.