Pope Francis' health continues to improve, the Vatican says

The Holy See press office has released an update on the condition of Pope Francis, who is now in his eighth day of hospitalisation at Rome's Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic.

In a statement on Thursday evening, the Vatican announced that the Pontiff's clinical condition is slightly improving, with no fever for the moment.

The 88-year-old pope, who has been in hospital for a week, is reportedly still suffering from pneumonia, but continues to breathe independently, with his heart still holding up well.

"The Holy Father's clinical condition is slightly improving," reads the Holy See's communiqué of Thursday evening. "He is apyretic and his haemodynamic parameters continue to be stable. This morning he received the eucharist and afterwards went to work."

Blood tests are said to have have shown a “slight improvement” in some inflammation indices, but it will still be some time before doctors will know if the various therapies are working.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, called on the faithful to come together "as one family in faith, united in a heartfelt appeal" for the Pope's "health and well-being".

"As a spiritual family, we are called to stand together, united in prayer and supplication," the cardinal stressed in the statement published on the patriarchate's website.

"We fervently offer our prayers during Mass, in our homes and in the silence of our hearts, imploring the Lord to sustain Pope Francis with renewed health and strength, so that he may continue his sacred mission of leading the Church with wisdom, humility and love."

Pope Francis has already confirmed that shortly after being elected pontiff he wrote a resignation letter in case medical problems impeded him from