Thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square on a chilly, rainy evening to pray for an ailing Pope Francis.

Pope Francis' doctors "are prudently maintaining their cautious prognosis" as the pontiff's condition of respiratory and kidney issues "despite its severity has shown a slight improvement" at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

At the same square where Francis blessed the people on his first day as Pope, hundreds gathered for a second night of rosary prayers for the pontiff's recovery.