Pope Francis has led Angelus prayers at Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican before thousands of pilgrims, just days after undergoing a hernia operation.
Pope Francis, who expressed gratitude to those who had sent him messages of support, during his stay at the Gemelli Hospital , Rome said he spent 10 days convalescing.
The 86-year pontiff has suffered a series of health issues since his election in 2013, from hip problems, knee pain and weight gain, to an inflamed colon and respiratory infection.
He underwent a three-hour operation under general anaesthetic on June 7 to remove a painful hernia on the site of a scar from a previous surgery.
Pope Francis,however, expressed sadness and pain over last week’s trawler sinking off Greece, which resulted in the drownings of at least 78 migrants aboard with hundreds more missing.
He renewed his prayer for those who lost their lives and urge that everything to be done, always, to prevent such tragedies.
