Pope Francis "rested well throughout the night" in the hospital, the Vatican says, and even met with Vatican officials to sign several documents linked to sainthood designations on Monday.

As Pope Francis remains in critical condition at Gemelli Hospital in Rome – still in charge of the Vatican and the worldwide Roman Catholic church – millions of the devout are praying for his full recovery,

The Vatican says Pope Francis, who is hospitalized in critical condition with double pneumonia, was well enough to meet with the Vatican secretary of state and his deputy to approve new decrees for saints and call a formal meeting to set the dates for their canonization.