Pope Francis leaves Rome hospital 9 days after operation; surgeon says ‘he’s better than before’

ROME — Pope Francis was discharged Friday from the Rome hospital where he underwent abdominal surgery to repair a hernia and remove scarring from previous operations, with his surgeon saying the pontiff was “better than before” his nine-day hospitalization.

Francis, 86, left through Gemelli Polyclinic’s main exit in a wheelchair, smiling and waving and saying “thanks” to a crowd of well-wishers. He stood up to get into the small Vatican car awaiting him. In the brief distance before reached the white Fiat 500, reporters thrust microphones toward his face.

The pope seemed to bat the mics away, good-naturedly. “Still alive,” Francis quipped when asked how he was doing. As he smiled and shook hands, his face looked wan and thinner than usual.

When a reporter asked for a comment about the sinking of a crowded migrant boat off Greece that claimed dozens of lives and left hundreds missing, he replied: “So much sorrow.”

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who performed the pontiff’s three-hour operation on June 7, was outside the hospital along with the surging crowd as Francis exited.

“The pope is well. He’s better than before,” Alfieri told reporters after he said goodbye to Francis and the pontiff got into the car.

Following the surgery and his recuperation, Francis will be “stronger,” the doctor said.

The Vatican press office announced that Francis would make his traditional Sunday noon appearance at an Apostolic window overlooking St. Peter’s Square to greet the public, an engagement that lasts about 10 minutes.

But his customary Wednesday morning general audience with thousands of faithful in the square “has been canceled to safeguard the post-surgical recovery of the Holy Father,” the announcement said.