Pope Francis’ overall clinical condition is “improving slightly” and his heart is working well as he battles pneumonia, the Vatican said Thursday, as some of his cardinals cheered him on and insisted that the Catholic Church was very much alive and well even in his absence.

While Pope Francis battles pneumonia in hospital, work at the Vatican, headquarters of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church, continues apace.

Suffering from pneumonia affecting both lungs, Pope Francis, whose health condition is causing serious concern, has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since February 14. In his absence, life at the Vatican,