ROME — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis for 20 minutes in the hospital Wednesday and reported he was “alert and responsive” and full of good humor, despite his diagnosis of pneumonia and a complicated bronchial infection that has sidelined the 88-year-old pontiff for six days.
The Vatican said Francis’ overall condition remained stationary, but that blood tests showed a “slight improvement” in key inflammation indices.
Francis also worked in the afternoon with his collaborators, the Vatican said in a late statement. Meloni said she wanted to bring get-well wishes to the pope on behalf of the government and entire nation.
”We joked around as always. He has not lost his proverbial sense of humor,” she said in a statement issued by her office.
