Pope Francis home from hospital

Icon - Virgin Mary Salus Populi Romani

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis was discharged from the Gemelli hospital on Wednesday morning. On his way back to the Vatican he stopped off at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pray before the icon of the Virgin Mary Salus Populi Romani. Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, said the Holy Father got back to his rooms in Casa Santa Marta about midday.

Bruni said that Pope Francis visited the icon of the Virgin Mary Salus Populi Romani in Basilica of Saint Mary Major to express his gratitude for the success of his surgery and offer a prayer for all the sick, especially those he had met during his stay in hospital.

Pope Francis went into hospital for the scheduled surgery on Sunday 4 July. After his operation it was announced that he'd undergone surgery for a "diverticular stenosis of the sigma."

Medical bulletins charting his progress were issued regularly. As the days went by, large crowds of well-wishers gathered outside the Gemelli Hospital to pray for the Pope's recovery, and get-well messages poured in from around the world.

Among the most expressive ones were cards from children hospitalized in the Pediatric Oncology wards - located next to the Pope's recovery rooms. He visited some of them on Monday and Tuesday and blessed them together with their families and the hospital staff.

On Sunday, Pope Francis made his first public appearance after his operation for the Angelus which he led from the balcony of the tenth floor of the hospital. He was accompanied there by several young patients. The crowds below cheered the Pope when he appeared - looking alert and well. Pope Francis made an appeal for "good health service, accessible to all". He stressed that no one, from sick children to the elderly, should be "left alone" and that everyone "may receive the anointing of listening, closeness, tenderness and care."