The Vatican stated on Wednesday that Pope Francis has shown a “slight” improvement in the last 24 hours, but his condition remains critical.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized in Rome for almost two weeks, and his prognosis is still undisclosed. He resumed some work activities earlier in the week, and Wednesday’s update indicated he continued to perform some duties.

“In the past 24 hours, the Holy Father’s clinical condition has improved slightly. The mild renal failure observed in recent days has reappeared. A chest CT scan conducted last night revealed the pulmonary phlogistic picture is evolving normally. Blood chemistry and blood tests today confirmed the improvement seen yesterday,” the Vatican said.

“The Holy Father is still receiving high-flow oxygen therapy; he has not experienced any respiratory crises today. Respiratory physiotherapy continues. Despite the slight improvement, the prognosis remains confidential. The Holy Father received the Eucharist this morning and dedicated the afternoon to work,” the statement added.

Francis was admitted to the hospital on February 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors initially diagnosed a complex viral, bacterial, and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently diagnosed pneumonia in both lungs.

Late on Sunday, doctors reported that blood tests revealed “early, slight kidney insufficiency,” but that it was under control. The doctors stated Francis remained in stable condition but had not experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday evening.

Francis, who had part of one lung removed when he was younger, was receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen and received two blood transfusions on Sunday to raise his hemoglobin levels. Doctors said his prognosis was guarded.

The Pope was alert and responsive on Sunday and attended Mass.

Doctors said Francis’ condition is delicate due to his age, fragility, and pre-existing lung disease. The main threat to Francis, doctors warned, is sepsis, a serious blood infection that can arise as a complication of pneumonia.

Tuesday marks Francis’ 11th day in the hospital, exceeding his longest hospitalization as pope. He spent 10 days at Gemelli Hospital in 2021 after undergoing a 13-inch colon resection.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan said Sunday in New York that Catholics were united “at the bedside of a dying father,” an acknowledgement of Francis’ limited time left, which church leaders in Rome have not publicly stated.

Landon Mion contributed to this report.