Pope Francis 'resting' in hospital and night 'went well', says The Vatican

Pope Francis is in good spirits, eating normally and continuing to receive treatment, Vatican sources have said.

Earlier on Monday morning, the Vatican issued a short statement saying the pontiff was "resting" in hospital and the night "went well".

The updates on his health follow a statement on Sunday in which the Vatican said Francis was in a critical condition and was showing an "initial, mild" kidney problem.

It said he was "vigilant and well-oriented", and took part in mass in hospital with those caring for him, but due to the complexity of his case the prognosis was "reserved".

The Pope, 88, has been at Rome's Gemelli Hospital since 14 February and is being treated for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.

He has a history of respiratory illness, having lost part of one of his lungs to pleurisy as a young man. He also had an acute case of pneumonia in 2023.

Today marks Francis's 10th day at Gemelli - equalling the longest hospital stay of his papacy. He spent the same number of days there in 2021 after he had 33cm (13ins) of his colon removed.

Father Nunzio Corrao, the chaplain at the hospital, said the time had come "to hope against hope" for the Pope, according to Italian media reports.

The Vatican said its secretary of state, Pietro Parolin, will lead a mass in St Peter's Square this evening at 9pm local time (8pm UK time) to pray for him - and others in hospital.

It comes after the Vatican released a message from the Pope on Sunday - his first from his hospital bed - in which he asked people to pray for him.

His message said: "I am confidently continuing my hospitalisation at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!"

He added: "In recent days I have received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children.

"Thank you for this closeness, and for the prayers of comfort I have received from all over the world! I entrust you all to the intercession of Mary, and I ask you to pray for me."

The message is understood to have been written in the last few days.

On Saturday, the Vatican said the pontiff was in a critical condition after a "prolonged respiratory crisis" that required a high flow of oxygen.

It said he had blood transfusions after tests revealed thrombocytopenia, which is associated with anaemia.

Doctors said on Friday he was "not out of danger" and was expected to remain in hospital for at least another week.

They warned the main threat he faced was sepsis, that can occur as a complication of pneumonia, and lead to organ failure and death.

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Millions around the world have been concerned about Francis's increasingly frail health.

His condition has given rise to speculation over a possible resignation - which the Vatican has not commented on.

In New York on Sunday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan said the Catholic faithful were united "at the bedside of a dying father".

"As our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death," he said in his homily from the pulpit of St Patrick's Cathedral.

He later told reporters he hoped and prayed that Francis would "bounce back".

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