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

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

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 says Pope Francis remains in critical condition but has shown slight improvement in laboratory tests. He has resumed some work activities, including calling a parish in Gaza City

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.

The Vatican’s evening bulletin on the latest health developments for the pope were more upbeat than in recent days.

Pope Francis showed improvement in his health, allowing him to resume some work activities, including reaching out to a Gaza City parish. Despite suffering from pneumonia, the Vatican's bulletin was optimistic,

The Vatican says the Pope's condition has improved as he spends an 11th day in hospital with double pneumonia.

Vatican No.2 Cardinal Pietro Parolin led the first night of prayers in St Peter’s Square for the Pope, who remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Pope Francis had a peaceful night in hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, the Vatican said early Wednesday in its latest update on the 88-year-old pontiff’s health.

ROME (AP) — Another woman is taking over a top management job in the Vatican: Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian nun, was named Saturday as president of the Vatican City State, making her essentially the governor of the 44-hectare (108-acre) territory in Rome that is home to the Catholic Church.