The Vatican press office on Saturday described “a good response to therapy” and a “gradual, slight improvement” since the pope’s episodes of acute respiratory failure on Monday.

The pope’s doctors report that given that his “clinical condition continues to be stable” and “the improvements of recent days,” they have removed “the guarded prognosis” that they have retained throughout these past 25 days.

Pope Francis released an audio message to the faithful, the first communication from the pontiff since his hospitalization last month. The brief statement was released to reporters via the Holy See Press Office on Thursday in an audio file and revealed to the faithful who gathered in St.