Pope Francis, hospitalized in critical condition with pneumonia in both lungs, was showing a "slight improvement", the Vatican said Monday, while cautioning that doctors would not offer a prognosis. Amid global concern over the 88-year-old's health,

The death of a sitting pope initiates a profound period of mourning and transition within the Roman Catholic Church, marked by a meticulously structured process to elect a new pontiff

The Vatican reported a “slight improvement” in the Pope’s condition on Monday evening, though it continued to describe his situation as “critical”.

Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, has held his title for 12 years. What to know about the Jesuit.

Pope Francis remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement and resumed some work activities

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis is still critically ill as he battles double pneumonia, but his condition has shown a "slight improvement", the Vatican said on Monday. The 88-year-old pontiff is spending his 11th night in Rome's Gemelli Hospital, making it the longest hospital stay of his nearly 12-year papacy.

Time-honored rituals, drafted and refined over centuries, allow for ritual mourning and provide order at a dramatic moment of transition.

While the Vatican has detailed laws and rituals to ensure the transfer of power when a pope dies or resigns, they do not apply if he is sick or even unconscious. And there are no specific norms outlining what happens to the leadership of the Catholic Church if a pope becomes totally incapacitated.

Pope Francis, 88, is in critical condition due to pneumonia. If he passes away, the Vatican will follow a structured process—confirming his death, breaking the papal seal, holding a nine-day mourning period,

The death of a pope triggers a series of ancient traditions, some dating back to the Roman Empire. Here’s what would unfold if Pope Francis were to pass away.

Francis' age and prolonged illness has revived interest about how papal power is exercised in the Holy See, how it is transferred and under what circumstances.