Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has visited Pope Francis in the hospital and says he’s “alert and responsive” and full of good humor despite his pneumonia.

I am very happy to have found him alert and responsive. We joked as always. He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humor,” the Italian PM said.

Rome: Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis for 20 minutes in the hospital on Wednesday and reported he was "alert and responsive" and full of good humour, despite his diagnosis of pneumonia and a complicated bronchial infection that has sidelined the 88-year-old pontiff for six days.

Pope Francis "joked around" with Giorgia Meloni after spending a "tranquil" fifth night in hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for pneumonia, Italy's prime minister has said.

Pope Francis was in jovial mood when Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni popped in to visit him in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital where he is fighting off pneumonia in both lungs, the Corriere della Sera newspaper reported on Thursday.

Francis received a visit on Wednesday from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, his first known VIP visitor in hospital. She said he was 'alert and responsive'. The pope joked with Meloni about ...

The pope is a "fragile" patient Alfieri said ... with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni describing him as being in good spirits following their meeting that afternoon.

Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis briefly on Wednesday, saying the 88-year-old pontiff was "alert and responsive".

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis in the hospital, observing that he is alert and in good spirits despite battling pneumonia. Her visit highlighted the pope's enduring sense of humor,

Related Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs ... complete rest' at hospital for bronchitis Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni privately visited him for 20 minutes in the afternoon, the ...