Flowers and candles are laid at the statue of John Paul II outside the Gemelli hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalized with pneumonia, in Rome on February 27, 2025. (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images)

(LONDON and oROME) -- Pope Francis' condition continued to improve on Thursday, with the pontiff alternating between high-flow oxygen therapy and ventimask, according to the Vatican.

"Given the complexity of his clinical condition, further days of clinical stability are needed to clarify the prognosis," the Vatican said.

"For the second time, there is no mention of a critical condition," Vatican sources told ABC News. "So we can say that we have come out of the most critical phase and we are back to what was previously described as a complex picture.”

The pope dedicated the morning to respiratory physiotherapy and rest. After a session of physiotherapy, in the afternoon, he gathered in prayer in the chapel of the private apartment on the 10th floor, receiving the Eucharist. The pope then dedicated himself to work activities, according to the Vatican.

"The bulletin again speaks of an improvement, a slight one, but an improvement, but the fact that the prognosis is reserved means that the doctors still have concerns," Vatican sources told ABC News.

The Vatican said that the pope "slept well during the night and is now resting" peacefully on Thursday morning as the pontiff begins his 14th day in hospital.

Pope Francis' condition improved slightly on Wednesday, though officials said they "remain guarded" over his prognosis, according to the Vatican.

The slight renal insufficiency the pope had in recent days has subsided and a Tuesday CAT scan of the chest showed a normal evolution of the pulmonary inflammatory picture.

The blood chemistry and blood cell count tests carried out Wednesday have confirmed the pope's improvement, but he remains on high-flow oxygen therapy and did not have any asthmatic-like respiratory crises.

The pontiff, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, was diagnosed with pneumonia last week, according to the Vatican.

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