Pope John Paul is making a steady recovery from flu and breathing difficulties and Vatican officials hope he will be strong enough to address Roman Catholic faithful this Sunday from his hospital suite.
In a brief statement today, the Vatican said the 84-year-old Pontiff had spent a peaceful second night in Rome's Gemelli hospital, that his throat ailment was "in regression" and that he had not suffered any further spasms.
"The Holy Father's general condition and his respiratory condition are evolving positively," the statement said. The frail Pope, who fell ill with influenza at the weekend, was rushed to hospital on Tuesday after suffering a momentary blockage to his breathing.
Vatican spokesman Mr Joaquin Navarro-Valls told reporters medical tests had produced "satisfactory results" and that the next bulletin would be issued at noon (11 a.m. Irish time) tomorrow.
Asked when the Pope might leave hospital, he told reporters: "It will be up to the doctors to decide. However, in my experience, we're talking about seven days ..."
Vatican sources said the Pope would almost certainly make an address from the hospital on Sunday at noon, the time he normally delivers his weekly blessing in St Peter's Square.
But they said it was still not clear if it would be live from the window of his 10th floor hospital room or from inside and whether it would be live or pre-recorded.