Pope Francis is starting his 29th straight day in the hospital, a day after he marked the 12th anniversary of his elected pope following five ballots in a papal conclave.

Pope Francis marked the 12th anniversary of his papacy Thursday with increasingly positive medical updates four weeks into his hospitalization for double pneumonia

Pope Francis ' recovery from double pneumonia continued Wednesday as a chest X-ray confirmed improvement, two days after doctors declared he's no longer in imminent danger of death.

Pope Francis remains stable in hospital and a recent chest scan confirmed improvements in his condition, the Vatican said on Wednesday, in a further sign of progress as the 88-year-old pontiff battles double pneumonia.