Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has visited Pope Francis in the hospital and says he’s “alert and responsive” and full of good humor despite his pneumonia.

I am very happy to have found him alert and responsive. We joked as always. He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humor,” the Italian PM said.

Pope Francis remains in “critical” but stable condition, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said on Tuesday, adding that the 88-year-old did not have any “acute respiratory episodes” and had a scheduled CT scan to monitor his pneumonia.

Pope Francis "joked around" with Giorgia Meloni after spending a "tranquil" fifth night in hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for pneumonia, Italy's prime minister has said.

As Pope Francis remains in critical condition fighting a complex respiratory infection and double pneumonia, world and interfaith leaders are offering well wishes and prayers for the recovery of the Argentine pontiff.

Pope Francis was in jovial mood when Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni popped in to visit him in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital where he is fighting off pneumonia in both lungs, the Corriere della Sera newspaper reported on Thursday.

ROME — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis in hospital Wednesday and reported he was “alert and responsive” and full of good humor, despite his diagnosis of pneumonia and a ...

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis in the hospital, observing that he is alert and in good spirits despite battling pneumonia. Her visit highlighted the pope's enduring sense of humor,