Pope's condition shows 'slight improvement,' Vatican says
The pope, 88, has been in Rome's Gemelli Hospital since Valentines Day.
ROME -- Pope Francis's health condition has shown slight improvement in the last 24 hours, according to the Vatican.
The slight renal insufficiency the pope had in recent days has subsided and a Tuesday CAT scan of the chest showed a normal evolution of the pulmonary inflammatory picture.
The blood chemistry and blood cell count tests carried out today have confirmed the pope's improvement, but he remains on high-flow oxygen therapy and did not have any asthmatic-like respiratory crises.
"Although there has been a slight improvement, the prognosis remains guarded," the Vatican said Wednesday.
The pope received the Eucharist on Wednesday morning and the afternoon was dedicated to work activities, the Vatican said.
The pope spent another "quiet night" in Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he has been recovering from a bout with bronchitis since Feb. 14, the Vatican said early Wednesday.
Pope Francis' condition remains "critical but stable," Vatican officials said in a brief update on Tuesday.
"There have been no acute respiratory episodes and hemodynamic parameters continue to be stable. In the evening, he underwent a scheduled CT scan for radiological monitoring of the bilateral pneumonia. The prognosis remains uncertain," the Vatican said Tuesday.
Vatican officials said Sunday he remained in critical condition but officials said that he had shown a "slight improvement" on Monday.
Further updates on the pontiff's condition are expected on Wednesday.
