Italian premier visits Pope Francis in hospital and says he is in good spirits

Candles with the pictures of Pope Francis are the laid under the statue of late Pope John Paul II outside Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome Picture: Gregorio Borgia/AP

Italian premier Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis in the hospital on Wednesday and said he’s “alert and responsive” and full of good humour despite his pneumonia.

In a statement issued by her office, Ms Meloni said: “We joked around as always. He has not lost his proverbial sense of humour.”