With a slightly quivering voice, before leading the recitation of the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis thanked everyone who prayed for him and cared for him while he was in the hospital.
Greeting an estimated 15,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square June 18,
Pope Francis has returned to the Vatican after a nine-day hospital stay and intends to go ahead with his planned trips abroad in August and September, according to his chief surgeon.
"The pope is fine. He's better than before," said Dr. Sergio Alfieri,
Pope Francis was scheduled to be released from Rome's Gemelli hospital June 16 after having abdominal surgery June 7, the Vatican press office said.
His blood tests have been normal, and his recovery has continued smoothly, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press
A week after undergoing abdominal surgery, Pope Francis' recovery is going well enough that his doctors are making plans to discharge him from Rome's Gemelli hospital, the Vatican press office said.
"The medical staff reports that his clinical course is proceeding smoothly, without
Following medical advice, Pope Francis will not publicly pray the Sunday Angelus from the balcony of Rome's Gemelli hospital, where he is recovering from abdominal surgery, the Vatican said.
His recovery was proceeding normally and his blood tests and chest X-ray showed good
Pope Francis has thanked people for their prayers and many messages of support and affection, said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, in a written statement the evening of June 9.
The medical team caring for the pope said they have
Pope Francis had a restful, peaceful first night at Rome's Gemelli hospital after a successful three-hour operation June 7 for a hernia.
He has been informed of the many messages of "closeness and affection" from well-wishers and he "expresses his gratitude, while asking
Pope Francis was conscious and alert after a three-hour abdominal surgery that was performed "without complications" to treat a hernia, the Vatican said.
Pope Francis was scheduled to undergo surgery at Rome's Gemelli hospital June 7 to treat a hernia that had developed at an incision of a previous operation, the Vatican said.
The pope was to be put under general anesthesia and undergo abdominal surgery
Pope Francis returned to the hospital for a brief medical checkup June 6 before returning to the Vatican.
According to Italian news agency ANSA, the pope entered Rome's Gemelli hospital at 10:40 a.m. June 6 for a visit to the hospital's geriatric medical