Rome, 21 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - A week after entering hospital, Pope Francis is still not out of danger and must remain in hospital for at least the entire coming week, his doctors said Friday.

The medical condition of the 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church remains complex, the attending physician, Sergio Alfieri, said at a press conference at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

He did not provide additional details but said what's important is that the pope is improving.

Alfieri emphasized that Francis' life is not in danger. The pope is suffering from pneumonia.

The spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide has been treated at the hospital since Friday last week.

Francis' first diagnosis after being admitted on Feb. 14 was bronchitis, followed by a "polymicrobial respiratory infection," diagnosed Monday. Such infections have multiple causes such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. The double pneumonia diagnosis came Tuesday.

Francis' health has been poor for a long time. It is his fourth longer stay in the hospital. He was initially there in 2021 for intestinal surgery, in 2023 for severe pneumonia and later that year for another open abdominal procedure.

Concern for him has been widespread worldwide since he was admitted to hospital.

Vatican's daily updates

The Catholic Church has been publishing daily accounts of the pontiff's health - most recently on Friday, when it said that the pope spent his seventh night in hospital without any complications.

"The night went well," a Vatican spokesman said, adding that Francis got out of bed and then had breakfast.

On Thursday evening, the Vatican stated that the pope's condition had "slightly" improved and that he had no fever.

Pope's home city Buenos Aires lights up obelisk with good wishes

The obelisk in Buenos Aires was lit up with messages of recovery for its famous native son.

The words "Francis, the city prays for you," lined the monument on one side, with the likeness of the Catholic Church leader projected onto the other side. The obelisk is to be illuminated until Monday.

The 67.5-meter-high monument, in the centre of Buenos Aires, is the symbol of the Argentinian capital. It was erected in 1936 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city's founding.

Football fans traditionally celebrate their teams' victories at the monument, and political demonstrations also often lead to the obelisk.

Before his election as pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, as Francis is known by his civilian name, was archbishop of Buenos Aires. Francis, who is 88, is now the second oldest pope in history.

Only Pope Leo XIII, an Italian pope, lived longer. He died in 1903 at the age of 93.

Successor speculation making the rounds

Meanwhile, speculation about a possible resignation for health reasons is circulating. Several cardinals had previously stated that such a step by Francis was possible.

They pointed out that the pope could consider resigning if he remained severely restricted in the long term. "Anything is possible," the archbishop of Marseille, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, told journalists Thursday.

Francis has rejected such rumours in the past. However, he did say that he had signed and deposited a letter of resignation – but only in case he were incapacitated due to illness.

Francis' German predecessor Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, completely unexpectedly, and then lived a secluded life in the Vatican until his death.

The influential Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re has rejected the speculation. The leading Italian cleric told the newspaper La Repubblica: "The pope is recovering well, we shouldn't make things up ... There can be no question of resignation. He will be back at the Vatican in a few days."

The chairman of the Italian Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, also said that the pope was on the road to a full recovery.