The Pope is back in the Vatican. François was released late Wednesday morning from the hospital ten days after a colon operation. He returned to his small apartment to continue his rest before a return that promises to be eventful. “The Holy Father is in good shape for a person who has undergone a delicate operation,” said Massimo Antonelli, one of the anesthetists who operated on him on July 4, reports the Agi agency.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni clarified that the pope returned to his Sainte-Marthe residence in the Vatican shortly before noon, after stopping at the Roman basilica of Saint Mary Major. The basilica has also immortalized the moment on its Facebook account, with photographs showing that the Pope moved in a wheelchair and held the hand of an assistant while standing.
Meeting with Orban in September
The 84-year-old Pope had been operated on at Gemelli University Hospital for a “left colectomy” (surgery to remove a portion of the colon). The Holy See initially counted on “about a week” of hospitalization, “except for complications”. His stay longer than expected did not cause alarmist headlines in the Italian press, more verbose to comment on the title of European football champion conquered Sunday by Italy. It is true that the Argentinian Jorge Bergoglio has displayed iron health since his election in 2013, despite his sometimes limping gait linked to recurrent sciatica.
And the Sovereign Pontiff does not plan to ease off. On the day of his hospitalization, the Vatican announced his trip from September 12 to 15 to Budapest and then to Slovakia. His passage of a few hours in the Hungarian capital to celebrate the closing mass of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress will be the occasion of a “meeting behind closed doors” with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, at the antipodes of the Pope on the benevolent reception of migrants and LGBT people. The Pope will continue on a three-day state visit to Slovakia, a difference in treatment that will not fail to be interpreted as a small diplomatic snub to Hungary.