Pope Francis is responding “well” to therapy for double pneumonia and has shown a “gradual, slight improvement” in recent days, the Vatican said Saturday. But as a precaution his doctors have decided to keep his prognosis as guarded.

The 88-year-old pope has remained stable, with no fever and good oxygen levels in his blood for several days, doctors said.

Pope Francis is responding well to treatment for pneumonia after three weeks in hospital, the Vatican said Saturday, adding that the 88-year-old was showing "a gradual, slight improvement". There is therefore a gradual,