Pietro Parolin, a 70-year-old Italian polyglot who entered the seminary at just 14, is currently pitted as favourite to replace Francis as the pope is still in hospital.

The Vatican reported a “slight improvement” in the Pope’s condition on Monday evening, though it continued to describe his situation as “critical”.

THE Pope wrote his resignation letter 12 years ago in case he became too ill to fulfil the holy role as he remains in a ‘critical’ state in hospital. The Pontiff has spent 10 nights in

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

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’s Secretary of State Pietro Cardinal Parolin emphasised that military action must respect human rights during a visit to Burkina Faso, where the

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.