German Cardinal Gerhard Muller, a former Vatican official known to have disagreed with Francis on doctrinal issues, admonished prelates who were publicly speculating about the pope‘s condition or planning for a conclave, the secret gathering of cardinals to elect a new pope.
Monday’s statement said the pope had resumed work in the afternoon and in the evening made a call to the Catholic parish in Gaza, which the pope has done frequently during the Israel-Hamas war.
New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is not known as close to Francis and did not cite information beyond the Vatican’s medical updates, said in a homily during Mass at his cathedral on Sunday that the pope was “probably close to death”.
Pope Francis is still critically ill as he battles double pneumonia, but his condition has shown a “slight improvement”, the Vatican said on Monday.
A Vatican official, who did not wish to be named because he was not authorised to speak about the pope‘s condition, earlier said that Francis was eating normally and was able to get up and move about his hospital room.
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