VATICAN CITY -Pope Francis is still critically ill as he battles double pneumonia, but his condition has shown a "slight improvement", the Vatican said on Monday. The 88-year-old pontiff is spending his 11th night in Rome's Gemelli Hospital,

The Vatican reported a “slight improvement” in the Pope’s condition on Monday evening, though it continued to describe his situation as “critical”.

Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, has held his title for 12 years. What to know about the Jesuit.

Time-honored rituals, drafted and refined over centuries, allow time for mourning and provide order at a dramatic moment of transition.

While the Vatican has detailed laws and rituals to ensure the transfer of power when a pope dies or resigns, they do not apply if he is sick or even unconscious. And there are no specific norms outlining what happens to the leadership of the Catholic Church if a pope becomes totally incapacitated.

Pope Francis, 88, is in critical condition due to pneumonia. If he passes away, the Vatican will follow a structured process—confirming his death, breaking the papal seal, holding a nine-day mourning period,

The death of a pope triggers a series of ancient traditions, some dating back to the Roman Empire. Here’s what would unfold if Pope Francis were to pass away.

Francis' age and prolonged illness has revived interest about how papal power is exercised in the Holy See, how it is transferred and under what circumstances.