Pope Francis’ health ‘improving,’ Vatican says Thursday

Passersby peer into the John Paul II Chapel at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where a daily Holy Hour is among several prayer initiatives in the Eternal City for the health and recovery of Pope Francis. (Photo: Courtney Mares/CNA)

The Vatican in an update on Thursday evening Rome time says Pope Francis’ condition is “improving.” Due to his overall complex medical condition, however, the statement says “further days of clinical stability” are needed for a change in his current critical prognosis.

“Today he alternated high-flow oxygen therapy with a ventimask,” the statement says. After resting, on Thursday afternoon the Holy Father went to the chapel in his private apartment on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital in Rome for prayer and to receive the Eucharist before attending “to work activities,” the statement concludes.