Pope's health improving, he "slept well", says Vatican

The health of Pope Francis is “progressively improving” and he is working from the hospital, the Vatican said on March 30, after the 86-year-old was admitted to a facility in Rome for treatment of a respiratory infection.

“His Holiness Pope Francis rested well during the night. The clinical picture is progressively improving and the planned treatments continue. This morning after breakfast, he read some newspapers and went back to work,” Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said in a statement, per CNN.

“Before lunch, he went to the little chapel of the private apartment, where he gathered in prayer and received the Eucharist.”

After his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square on March 29, the pontiff was taken to the hospital to undergo a number of tests. Earlier in the day, the Vatican had said that the visit and tests were planned.

“The Holy Father has been at Gemelli since this afternoon for some previously scheduled tests,” Bruni had said.

Shortly after, he said that Francis’ scheduled for March 30 had been cleared “to make space for the continuation of tests should that be necessary.”

Vatican sources told CNN on March 30 that Pope Francis “slept well” during his first night in the hospital.

The Church of Rome also expressed “all its closeness and affection to its Bishop Pope Francis, and ensures its unceasing prayers, wishing him a speedy recovery,” it said in a statement on March 30.