The recovery of Pope Francis from double pneumonia continued Wednesday as he inched toward notching some important milestones in his papacy: The 12th anniversary Thursday of his election as pope and a near-record in length of hospital stays for a pontiff.

The 88-year-old has now spent four weeks in hospital, much of it with an uncertain prognosis, but he is no longer in imminent danger of death. He first entered Rome's Gemelli Hospital on February 14 and remains under medical supervision.

Pope Francis, 88, has been in a Rome hospital for 3 weeks, but he was well enough as he recovers from pneumonia to record a first message for his supporters.