Pope Francis continued his treatment for pneumonia Tuesday as the Vatican set in motion a nightly marathon of prayers. In the most upbeat bulletin in days, the Vatican said Francis had resumed work from his hospital room, calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began.

Pope Francis was well enough on Monday to meet in the hospital with the Vatican secretary of state and his deputy to approve new decrees of candidates for possible sainthood, the Vatican said Tuesday.