has reportedly created a new taskforce to urge to donate money as the church faces a funding crisis.

The pontif has recently been with kidney failure and double pneumonia.

The team was signed off by the Pope on February 11 - three days before he was admitted to hospital.

Now, his condition is said to be considered "complex" rather than "critical".

It will be staffed by a priest, an archbishop, two nuns and a lawyer, whose brief is to "encourage donations with special campaigns among the faithful, bishops' conferences, and other potential benefactors".

The Vatican had a reported deficit of €45.8million (£37.8million) in 2022. This was the last time full financial data was published.

Outgoings were greater than donations, and the church was processing compensation payments and legal costs as a result of sexual abuse scandals.

There was also unsuccessful property investment in London.

The Pope has attempted to tackle the problem by cutting staff pay and ending subsidised Vatican accomodation for clergy.

But these measures have been opposed by cardinals.

"The Vatican is facing a very real liquidity crisis and while the Pope has been cutting costs, no one has been put in charge of making money until now," Ed Condon, the editor of The Pillar, a Catholic news site, told the .

He added that a Vatican official he had spoken to had likened it to "trimming the catering budget on the Titanic".

Mr Condon then said: "It was a real sign of panic when they admitted they couldn't meet pension obligations.

"When a 2016 audit found a pension deficit of €900million, Vatican administrators called the findings alarmist, claiming it was 'only' €600 million."

He added: "A decade ago the Vatican was being advised to generate rent from disused sites and undeveloped land it owned but there was no appetite - the proposals were put in a drawer."

In addition, a source said believers are "less inclined to donate" due to sex abuse scandals and failed London property investment.