Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said. The 88-year-old Francis, who has been hospitalized for a week with pneumonia and a complex lung infection,

The biggest risk he faces is sepsis, that is, if the infection that is currently localized only in his lungs passes into his bloodstream and begins to affect the rest of his body’s organs, the doctor told reporters in the hospital atrium Feb.

The biggest risk he faces is sepsis, that is, if the infection that is currently localized only in his lungs passes into his bloodstream and begins to affect the rest of his body's organs, the doctor told reporters in the hospital atrium Feb.

Pope Francis remained in a critical condition on Monday but showed a slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war began,

Pope Francis, 88, was resting Monday morning, his 10th day at the hospital for a complex lung infection that led to the early stages of kidney insufficiency.

The Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will lead the first prayer Monday. Francis, who has double pneumonia and is in the early stages of kidney insufficiency, was awake and in good spirits Monday.

The pope has begun working again after he showed slight improvement days after initially being listed in critical condition. Pope Francis is battling double pneumonia and is in the early stages of kidney “insufficiency,” The Associated Press reported.

The Vatican says Pope Francis remains in critical condition but has showed slight improvement in laboratory tests.

Pope Francis remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work, the Vatican said, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began.