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Pope Francis on a balcony of the Gemelli Hospital in Rome (on Sunday)
Photo:
Alessandra Tarantino / AP
Pope Francis has to stay in hospital for a few days after his bowel operation.
The Vatican announced that this was necessary in order to coordinate the medication and rehabilitation process.
The postoperative treatments are finished.
The Pope spent a quiet day on Sunday, the spokesman said.
The pontiff said a prayer to believers from a balcony of the hospital that day.
"I'm glad that I can keep the Angelus prayer on Sunday even here," said the head of the Catholic Church.
Before his address in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, the Pope visited children in the nearby cancer ward.
A couple of children accompanied him to the balcony during prayer.
"During those days of recovery in the hospital, I learned the importance of good, accessible health care," said the Pope, who was standing on a balcony on the tenth floor of the Rome building.
He thanked the doctors and all medical staff and employees.
"You work so hard."
Fever after bowel surgery
Pope Francis had undergone around three hours of surgery on Sunday a week ago for an inflammation of the colon.
According to the Vatican, it was a "planned" operation.
After he had developed a fever in the meantime, new blood tests were "satisfactory", the Vatican announced on Saturday.
The head of the Catholics is "gradually resuming work."
On Monday, his spokesman also announced that the Pope had been delighted with the Italian national soccer team's EM victory.
Francis, who is considered a football fan, shares the joy of the victories of the national teams from Argentina and Italy, it said.
Argentina had already won the final of the Copa America, the South American continental championship, against defending champions Brazil on Saturday.
The head of the Catholic Church emphasized the importance and values of sport to be able to accept any result, even defeat.
This is the only way to face difficulties in life.
The England national players, who were defeated in the European Championship final, had been attacked in a racist manner in the social networks after the game.
There were also physical disputes around the final stadium in London.
hba / AFP / Reuters