Improvement in Pope Francis' health

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Pope Francis has shown a "slight improvement", is alert and got out of bed to eat breakfast on Feb 20, the Vatican said, as the pontiff spent his seventh day in hospital battling pneumonia.

The 88-year-old pontiff is undergoing treatment at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where he was admitted on February 14 after struggling with breathing difficulties for several days.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a brief update that the pope had slept well and had breakfast while seated in an armchair.