Pope Francis’s condition has slightly improved, the Vatican has said in a medical update.

On Sunday, the Pope’s condition was said to be “critical” with respiratory and kidney problems.

But the Vatican has now said that a “slight” kidney problem was not a cause for concern, more than a week after he was admitted to hospital.

“Even today there were no episodes of asthmatic respiratory attacks; some laboratory tests have improved,” said the Vatican in an evening bulletin on the 88-year-old’s health.

The pontiff resumed some work on Monday and called the Priest of the Parish of Gaza “to express his fatherly closeness”, the Vatican added.