Daily evening prayers will be held for Pope Francis at the Vatican's St. Peter's Square as he remains hospitalized in Rome, Italy, for a complex lung infection.

Pope Francis remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work, the Vatican said, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began.

Francis is being treated for pneumonia, a complex infection and kidney problems that have left him in critical condition. He did some light work on Monday.

Pope Francis, hospitalized in critical condition with pneumonia in both lungs, was showing a "slight improvement", the Vatican said Monday, while cautioning that doctors would not offer a prognosis. Amid global concern over the 88-year-old's health,

The wet black cobblestones shone from the bright lights illuminating the fountains and the front of the square where Pope Francis normally sits for his Wednesday general audiences. An image of Mater Ecclesiae – Mary, Mother of the Church – adorned with greenery and white and pink flowers took center stage.

Catholic cardinals gathered in Rome will offer a nightly rosary for Pope Francis as the pontiff remains hospitalized in critical condition with a respiratory infection

The Vatican press office said Cardinal Parolin will lead a rosary for the pontiff in St. Peter's Square at 9 p.m. local time. The U.S. bishops urged Catholics to join that prayer at the same time, 3 p.m. on the East Coast.

The Vatican has detailed laws and rituals to ensure the transfer of power when a pope dies or resigns, but not when he is sick

Pope Francis spends “a peaceful night” at Rome‘s Gemelli Hospital and has breakfast while sitting in an armchair on Thursday morning, the Vatican tells journalists on Feb. 20.

The Vatican announced Monday that cardinals will lead a nightly rosary in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ recovery, with the first prayer service Monday evening.

The Pope was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 after struggling for several days with bronchitis. Over the weekend the Vatican said the Holy Father had suffered a respiratory crisis and required a blood transfusion, with the Holy See on Sunday evening stating that Francis’ condition was “critical.”

The Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will lead the first prayer Monday. Francis, who has double pneumonia and is in the early stages of kidney insufficiency, was awake and in good spirits Monday.