Pope Francis was released from the hospital on Friday morning after undergoing a hernia operation earlier.
He was treated for nine days at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
According to Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who performed the operation, “the pope is doing very well” and is even stronger than before.
The pope had a smile on his face when he was pushed out of this hospital in a wheelchair this morning, where several fans gathered outside. When asked how he felt, the pope joked “I’m still alive”.
The 86-year-old Francis has been struggling with his health since 2013, including hip problems, knee pain and respiratory infections.
On June 7 this year, he underwent a three-hour operation to repair a painful hernia.
However, doctors say he was cheerful when he woke up after the operation, and that he joked with the medical team.
This is the third time since 2021 that the pope has been treated in a hospital.
Most of the pope’s official duties have been canceled or postponed until June 18 to give him enough time to recover.
His schedule is said to be particularly full over the coming months, with trips to Portugal and Mongolia in August.
The program for his visit to Portugal from 2 to 6 August for World Youth Day in Lisbon is packed, with around 20 meetings and a whole number of events.
