Pope Francis ‘awake, in good humour’: Vatican

While Pope Francis remains in a critical condition, a Vatican source says he is doing ‘as best as can be expected’ given the complex and serious nature of his health woes.

Scenes outside the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where Pope Francis is being treated. Picture: Jacquelin Magnay

Pope Francis remains in a critical condition in hospital but on Monday morning he was awake and “in good humour”, Vatican sources say.

The 88-year-old pontiff continues to receive breathing assistance and other pharmaceutical interventions.

Concern had been raised earlier when the morning update only signified that he had had another restful night at the Gemelli hospital in Rome without giving any indication of whether he was conscious.

However the Vatican source moved to reassure wellwishers that the Pope was doing “as best as can be expected” given the complex and serious nature of his health woes.

The Pope has been in hospital since Valentine’s Day, initially admitted for bronchitis and breathing difficulties, but his condition has worsened with several asthma like attacks, infections and most recently, deteriorating kidney function.

The Pope’s doctors have refused to offer a prognosis of their critically ill patient – saying he was being given oxygen, blood transfusions, and showing signs of kidney failure. The “complexity of the clinical picture” had belied the simple last update on Monday morning: he had “a good 10th night in hospital”.

Over the weekend the Pope had issued a thank you to the thousands of wellwishers who have sent cards and notes.

“I have recently received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children,’’ the Pope said in a message distributed by his aides.

“Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world.”