‘Cautious, complex’: Vatican gives update on Pope

Pope Francis remains in hospital, the Vatican has said, with “complex” issues, as people worldwide pray for his health.

The Vatican has revealed that Pope Francis had “another restful night” in hospital. But they warn his prognoses is “cautious” and his condition is “complex”.

Francis was hospitalised with double pneumonia and bronchitis last week.

There have been increasing fears for the 88-year-old pontiffs’ health with the Holy See saying he was in a “critical” condition.

That only increased when it was revealed he had renal issues as well.

However, the Pope’s conditions appears to have taken a slightly more positive turn.

On Monday, the Vatican said there was a “slight improvement in the pope’s condition”.

On Tuesday another update was provided.

“Pope Francis rested well throughout the night,” it said.

Pope Francis remains in hospital. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP).

It added that “after the restful evening, the Holy Father got up and continued his daily therapy.

“There were no other respiratory crises, like that of Saturday morning.”

The Vatican also said the Pope had been up to some work tasks on Tuesday while at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Peña Parra visited Francis in hospital “to sign several decrees related to causes for sainthood”.

The archbishop of the City of Buenos Aires Jorge Garcia Cuerva led a mass for the health of the Pope: 'Francis needs us to pray for him'. (Photo by Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images)

On Monday, he received the Holy Eucharist and called the called the pastor of the Holy Family parish in Gaza “to express his paternal closeness to the people there”.

The Vatican said the monitoring of the Pope’s mild kidney insufficiency had not raised any concerns.

Oxygen therapy has continued although with slightly reduced flow and oxygen levels.

The statement said doctors are maintaining a “cautious” prognosis “given the complexity of the clinical picture.”

The Pope has given his thanks “to the entire People of God, who in these days have gathered to pray for his health.”

Originally published as ‘Cautious, complex’: Vatican gives update on Pope