Pope Francis has entered the fifth week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia very much looking ahead as he continued work on a signature priority of his papacy.

Pope Francis, battling double pneumonia in hospital for almost a month, remains stable and a recent X-ray confirmed improvements in his condition that had been seen in previous days, the Vatican said on Wednesday.

Pope Francis had a "restful" night as he continues his recovery from double pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli hospital, the Vatican said in a short statement Wednesday morning. The 88-year-old Argentine pope remains under medical care as he approaches key milestones in his papacy.