As Pope Francis continued his treatment at Rome’s Gemelli hospital Sunday, he expressed gratitude to medical staff while marking the approaching third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a prepared Angelus message.

Rome's Gemelli University Hospital, located just five kilometres from the Vatican, has long been the preferred medical facility for popes. Situated on Monte Mario in the western part of the Italian capital,

Pope Francisis "slightly improving" and his blood analyses are stable, the Vatican said on Thursday, in the latest sign of progress as the 88-year-old pontiff battles double pneumonia.