The clinical condition of Pope Francis, who is suffering from pneumonia, has improved slightly, the Vatican said late on Thursday.

The 88-year-old pontiff also has no fever, a spokesman said.

Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday last week.

There is currently no indication when he might be discharged.

A few days ago, doctors diagnosed pneumonia in both lungs.

The pontiff had resisted going to the hospital since mid-December despite evident health problems.

Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said on Thursday that he thought the pope would consider resigning if his health deteriorated.

“If he found himself in a situation where he was compromised in his ability to have direct contact with people, then I believe he might consider resigning,” Mr Ravasi said in a radio interview.

He described the pope’s condition as “complex, but not critical.”

French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline also did not rule out resignation. Regarding speculation that the pope could follow the example of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, Aveline said, “Everything is possible.”

Benedict XVI resigned in 2013 and lived a secluded life in the Vatican until his death at the end of 2022.

Pope Francis has repeatedly rejected rumours of his possible resignation.

However, some time ago, he announced that he had deposited a signed letter of resignation at the Vatican Secretariat of State at the beginning of his term of office – but only to take effect if he were incapacitated and too severely affected by a serious illness to carry out his duties.

The health of the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide has been poor for a long time.

French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline called for prayers to be said for Pope Francis during a news conference in the Vatican earlier on Thursday.

“He is tired. He is one of those people who have to be taken to hospital if we really want them to get better. Otherwise, they never recover,” the influential archbishop of Marseille told journalists.

Mr Aveline said he had no more precise information and would not engage in speculation. But he also expressed his concern. The 66-year-old cardinal is among the possible successors to Francis.

Earlier on Thursday, the Corriere della Sera newspaper reported that the pope had been in a jovial mood when Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni popped in to visit him in hospital.

“The doctors have said that I have to watch my health. Otherwise, I would go straight to heaven,” the 88-year-old pontiff said, according to the report.

“I know that there are people outside there who say my time has come,” he added.

Ms Meloni visited the pope on Wednesday for an audience lasting around 20 minutes.

Her office subsequently reported that Francis had been awake and alert.

“We joked constantly. He has not lost his proverbial sense of humour,” Ms Meloni said after the visit.

The Vatican reported that the pope had spent a sixth “restful night” in hospital without further complication.

He had got up and taken breakfast in an armchair, the Vatican statement said.

The pope was admitted after falling ill with bronchitis. Concerns grew following a Tuesday update in which the Vatican reported that he was suffering from double pneumonia.

While there are more than 250 cardinals around the world, only 138 of them are currently under the age threshold of 80 and would participate in the conclave to elect the next pope.

The conclave sits in secrecy in the Sistine Chapel. A plume of white smoke from the chapel’s chimney indicates that a decision has been reached.

(dpa/NAN)