Pope Francis continued his recovery from pneumonia Tuesday as the Vatican set in motion a nightly marathon of prayers from “his house” and allies cheered him on from afar in hopes that he might recover and get back to leading the Catholic Church.

The Vatican said Pope Francis remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work.

Pope Francis showed slight improvement in laboratory tests Monday and resumed some work activities, the Vatican said.

On Ash Wednesday, observant Catholics receive a sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads, a gesture that underscores human mortality. It is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics that signals the start of Christianity’s most penitent season.

The Vatican says Pope Francis has showed slight improvement in laboratory tests, and has resumed some work activities, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in

The Vatican on Monday announced the start of nighttime prayers for the health of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, and invited Romans and others to join in, as the 88-year-old pontiff battled a complex lung infection and complications.

The Vatican’s evening bulletin on the latest health developments for the pope were more upbeat than in recent days.

The pope remained in critical condition with pneumonia in both lungs, one of which he had partially removed as a young man.

The 88-year-old Francis, suffering from pneumonia in both lungs, hadn’t had any more respiratory crises, officials said.

Pope Francis showed slight improvement in laboratory tests Monday and resumed some work activities, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began, the Vatican said.

ROME: Pope Francis remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work activities, including calling a