Pope Francis discharged from the hospital

Pope Francis was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday morning, 16 June, following his abdominal surgery on Wednesday, 7 June. On his way back to the Vatican, he stopped at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pray before the icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani.

The Pope thanked all the medical staff for their professionalism and their efforts “to alleviate the suffering of others”. Dr Sergio Alfieri, who performed the surgery, said there had been no complications with the operation and that the Pope could eventually resume travel and his normal activities.

The Holy Father will participate in the Sunday Angelus and in the audiences scheduled for the coming days, with the exception of the General Audience on Wednesday, 21 June, which, the Holy See Press Office announced, was cancelled “to safeguard the Holy Father’s postoperative recovery”.