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Pope Francis leaving the clinic
Photo: ANGELO CARCONI / EPA
Pope Francis has been released from the hospital after his bowel surgery.
The 84-year-old head of the Catholic Church left the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome in a dark car with tinted windows, as reported by the AFP news agency and the Italian broadcaster Sky Italia.
When he arrived at the Vatican, the Pope got out of the car at a side entrance to greet security guards, the AP news agency writes.
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Pope Francis in the clinic in Rome
Photo: VATICAN MEDIA / CPP / IPA / imago images / Independent Photo Agency Int.
On July 4th, Francis had undergone a planned operation lasting about three hours because of an inflammation of the colon.
Part of his bowel had been removed.
After that he had developed a fever.
However, the doctors later gave the all-clear, but he had to stay in the hospital longer than initially planned.
On Sunday, the Pope again held the Angelus prayer in front of believers from a balcony of the hospital.
He had said that during his recovery he "learned the importance of good, accessible health care".
On Tuesday, Francis used his hospital stay to visit the clinic's children's cancer ward.
hba / AFP / Reuters / AP