Pope Francis is responding “positively” to medical treatment for pneumonia, according to the Vatican, a week after the 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized in Rome.

While Pope Francis battles pneumonia in hospital, work at the Vatican, headquarters of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church, continues apace. Although certain doctrinal matters require the pope's direct attention,

The Vatican said his blood tests had shown a “slight improvement” and his clinical conditions were stable. Read more at straitstimes.com.