By Juliana Uzoka

Pope Francis, who was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Hospital on February 14 for bronchitis, has shown signs of improvement after being diagnosed with double pneumonia on Tuesday.

In an update to journalists on Thursday, the Holy See Press Office announced that the Holy Father’s health condition “shows a slight improvement.”

“He has no fever, and his hemodynamic parameters remain stable. This morning, he received the Eucharist and then dedicated himself to work activities,” the Press Office stated in a communiqué.

Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, explained to reporters that the pneumonia was not widespread but localized to “focal” points in the lungs. He added that the Pope’s heart condition is stable, and he is breathing without oxygen support.

Daily updates from Vatican News indicate that Pope Francis is continuing his therapy, getting restful sleep at night, and having breakfast out of bed each morning.

Meanwhile, Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro, a close friend of the Holy Father, affirmed that “the situation is delicate,” but there is no cause for alarm.

The 58-year-old Jesuit priest further stated that the Pope has faced significant health challenges in the past and has undergone complex medical treatments, which will require time to heal.

Father Spadaro, who serves as the undersecretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education, described the Holy Father as having “extraordinary vital energy.”

“He is not someone who gives up easily, and that’s a very positive aspect—we have seen this in the past as well,” he said.

On Wednesday, Pope Francis received Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in audience at the Gemelli Hospital.

According to CNA, the Prime Minister confirmed that the Holy Father was “alert and responsive” and “has not lost his legendary sense of humor.” She also conveyed her wishes for the Pope’s quick recovery on behalf of the Italian government and its people.

Several prominent figures, including US Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, have called for prayers for the Pontiff.

Earlier in the week, the Press Office disclosed that “laboratory tests, chest x-rays, and the clinical condition of the Holy Father continue to present a complex picture.” It added that “a polymicrobial infection, which has arisen in the context of bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis and has required the use of corticosteroids and antibiotics, makes the therapeutic treatment more complex.”

Doctors and medical staff at the Gemelli Hospital, where the Pope receives treatment, had requested “additional pharmacological therapy” following the discovery of bilateral pneumonia after a CT scan was performed.

CNA also reported that the Holy Father received the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

The Vatican has suspended most of the Pope’s engagements until his full recovery. After seven days at the Gemelli Hospital, prayers continue to be offered for the Pope’s health across the world.