Pope Francis returns to Vatican 10 days after surgery

The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, confirmed Pope’s return from the hospital and visit to the Rome basilica.

Pope Francis was discharged from a Rome hospital and returned home to the Vatican on Wednesday, 10 days after undergoing surgery to remove half his colon. Pope, 84, sat in the passenger seat of the Ford car, which left Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic around 10.45 a.m. (0845 GMT; 4:45 a.m. EDT). He made a stop to pray at Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, which has a beloved icon of the Virgin Mary which Pope always visits after returning home from a foreign trip. After the brief stop, Pope’s small motorcade approached a side entrance to the Vatican. The Ford stopped before reaching the gate and he got out with the help of a bodyguard. He greeted some Italian security guards – two army soldiers standing guard and a handful of Italian police motorcycle escorts – and got back in the car, which then entered the Vatican through the Perugino gate.