Pope Francis is alert and was able to get out of bed for breakfast, despite remaining hospitalized for seven days because of a bout of pneumonia, Vatican News reported.Francis is "slightly improving" and now has no fever,

Pope Francis’ overall clinical condition is “improving slightly” and his heart is working well as he battles pneumonia, the Vatican said Thursday, as some of his cardinals cheered him on and insisted that the Catholic Church was very much alive and well even in his absence.