Pope Francis' condition improving but will remain 'guarded' until he is stable for several days: Vatican

The Vatican said Pope Francis, 88, is in a continued state of improvement after spending the past two weeks in Rome's Gemelli Hospital battling double pneumonia.

The statement said the high-flow oxygen therapy he has been receiving now includes treatments with a ventimask.

Despite his improvement, the 88-year-old pontiff's prognosis remains "guarded" and will not change until he is stable for "several more days," the Vatican said.