The Vatican says Pope Francis is responding well to therapy for double pneumonia and has shown a “gradual, slight improvement” in recent days.

In his absence, the Vatican’s day-to-day operations continued, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrating Mass for an anti-abortion group in St Peter’s Basilica

As he begins his fourth week in a Rome hospital, Pope Francis is showing a "gradual" improvement, the Vatican said. Pope Francis is responding well to treatment at a Rome hospital for pneumonia, the Vatican said Saturday,