VATICAN CITY — The health of Pope Francis remains unclear as the faithful have gathered in St. Peter’s Square nightly to pray for his recovery.

The 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized almost two weeks ago, suffering from double pneumonia and mild renal insufficiency. The Holy See Press Office has not released granular details of the pope’s health but said he has shown “slight improvement over the past 24 hours.”

“The mild kidney insufficiency observed in recent days has subsided,” the office said in a statement Wednesday evening.

It continued, “A chest CT scan carried out last night showed a normal progression of the lung inflammation.”

The ambiguous use of the phrase “normal progression of the lung inflammation” is characteristic of the opaque and often difficult-to-understand updates that have come out of the Vatican in recent days.

Doctors at Gemelli University Policlinic, the healthcare facility that traditionally treats popes during illness, said Monday that it is being “cautious” with its prognosis “given the complexity of the clinical picture.”

Large crowds have gathered each night in St. Peter’s Basilica to recite the rosary for the pope’s health, led in prayer by members of the College of Cardinals, who have been joined by other members of the papal household and Vatican staff.

The sounds of Italian and Latin hymns have been heard blocks away from the walls of the Vatican as priests, male and female members of religious orders, and laity travel to the city to spiritually support the pope.

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The pope acknowledged the gatherings of the faithful earlier this week via social media, thanking them for their support and expressing spiritual “closeness” with them despite his illness.

“I have recently received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children,” said a post from the pope’s X account. “Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!”