Pope Francis has shown a "further, slight improvement" as he battles double pneumonia in hospital and a previously reported kidney problem has been resolved, the Vatican has said.
However in a statement, the Vatican cautioned that "the prognosis remains reserved" for the 88-year-old pontiff.
"The clinical conditions of the Holy Father in the last 24 hours have shown a further, slight improvement," the Vatican said, adding that a CT scan of his chest showed "normal progression of the pulmonary inflammatory condition".
Francis is spending his 13th night at Rome's Gemelli hospital, the longest hospital stay of his nearly 12-year-old papacy.
Earlier, a Vatican source said that the pope was up and out of bed today after a peaceful night.
The pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on 14 February with breathing difficulties, after which his condition deteriorated.
As Catholics across the globe pray for Francis, doctors have warned the path to recovery could be long, with the Pope likely staying in hospital beyond this week.
Pope Francis continues to undertake work activities despite being in hospital for 12 nights.
Yesterday, he received the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
He approved the canonisation of two Venezuelan and Italian laymen who died in the early 20th century, while authorising the first steps towards sainthood for three 19th-century priests.
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He also called the parish priest of Gaza's Catholic community, as he has routinely done since the war there broke out, the Vatican said.
Catholics left messages and candles outside the hospital, where a group of faithful held up a banner reading: "Today, more than ever, we need you Francis".
Dozens of people attended special prayers for the Pope at an Argentinian church in Rome yesterday evening, led by Italian Cardinal Baldassare Reina.
Recovery will take time, doctors say
Doctors have cautioned that any recovery will take time and that Pope Francis will likely stay in hospital beyond this week.
The Pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has increasingly suffered health complications in recent years.
He is prone to respiratory infections, is overweight and suffers knee and hip pain that has led to his reliance on a wheelchair.
It takes a young person at least two weeks to get over double pneumonia, Massimo Andreoni, scientific director of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, told newspaper La Stampa.
"For an older person like Pope Francis, with all the added complications...you have to wait even longer for a complete recovery," Mr Andreoni said.
