Pope Francis has spent 19 full days at Rome's Gemelli hospital, however, it doesn't come close to approaching the record-long stays of St. John Paul II during his quarter-century pontificate.

Pope Francis had another quiet night in hospital, the Vatican said in its Friday morning update, as his recovery from bilateral pneumonia continues. The 88-year-old has now spent four weeks in hospital,

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.