Pope Francis leaves the hospital

(CNN) – Pope Francis was discharged from the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome on Wednesday, ten days after undergoing colon diverticulitis surgery.

In response to questions from journalists, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pontiff was discharged shortly after 10:30 a.m. local time.

Bruni added that before returning to the Vatican, the pope went to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major where – before the image of the Virgin Mary Salus populi romani – he expressed his gratitude for the success of his surgery and offered a prayer for all the sick. especially by those he had met during his stay in the hospital. Shortly before noon, local time, he returned to Casa Santa Marta.

On Sunday, the 84-year-old pontiff led his weekly Angelus prayer from a hospital balcony, appearing publicly for the first time since his surgery a week earlier.