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.

After the Vatican announced a slight improvement in Pope Francis's condition at the end of February, a video was shared in social media posts that falsely claimed it showed the 88-year-old pontiff had been "discharged from hospital".

Pope Francis has remained hospitalised for three weeks with double pneumonia. The Vatican confirmed this in its latest report on the Pontiff's current health state.