Pope Francis has been discharged from the Gemelli hospital in Rome after almost 10 days in hospital .
The pontiff left the hospital shortly before 9 in a wheelchair, exiting the main entrance and greeting patients, journalists and also a group of faithful who had gathered in the early hours of the morning. Then the return to the Vatican by car.
"I'm alive," he said, smiling , to the microphones of Rai News. The Holy Father also expressed "so much sorrow" for the recent and tragic sinking of the fishing boat in Greece, which cost the lives of hundreds of migrants .
Bergoglio had been in hospital since June 7, after undergoing surgery on his abdomen.
(Unioneonline/lf)
