Pope Francis has been seen leaving hospital, 10 days after an operation to remove half his colon.

Witnesses said a car carrying the 84-year-old pontiff left Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday morning.

Francis had surgery to tackle a severe narrowing of his large intestine on 4 July. It is the only major procedure he has undergone since accepting the papacy in 2013.

The planned operation was scheduled for this time of year because his audiences are suspended and he generally takes some time off.

He made his first public appearance since having surgery on Sunday, standing for about 10 minutes while speaking from the balcony of his suite.

On Tuesday, he visited a children’s cancer ward, smiling and walking without assistance.

Related posts:

Inside Russia’s military build-up along the Ukraine border Ireland’s health service shuts down IT systems over ‘significant ransomware attack’ ‘German Greta’ says UN climate talks were ‘hopeless’ British hiker ‘fell 100ft to her death after slipping in worn shoes’ Magnitude 7 earthquake hits western Haiti as people flee their homes ‘The greatest striker there has ever been’: Legendary German footballer Gerd Muller dies aged 75 Afghan president says he left he country to avoid bloodshed Scuffles at Kabul’s airport as thousands attempt to leave Afghanistan, with commercial flights halted Greece investigates plane crash that killed witness in Netanyahu corruption trial Southern France lashed by heavy rain, thunder and flooding Secret action taken to prevent ‘rogue’ Trump using nuclear weapons, new book says Terrorist Anders Breivik still ‘very dangerous’ after 10 years in jail and should not be freed on parole, court told