Pope Francisis "slightly improving" and his blood analyses are stable, the Vatican said on Thursday, in the latest sign of progress as the 88-year-old pontiff battles double pneumonia.

He continues to be without fever and "his hemodynamic parameters continue to be stable," said an evening bulletin Feb. 20. "Hemodynamic parameters" refer to a series of tests measuring cardiac output and other indicators of whether a patient's heart health is being impacted by a given therapy.

A view shows the statue of late Pope John Paul II outside the Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis is admitted to continue treatment for his ongoing respiratory tract infection, in Rome, Italy, February 19,