Minisite Gear

Experience the pulse of the Americas with Minisite Gear: Your go-to destination for digital news and analysis.

Pope Francis thanks pilgrims for the prayers that ‘sustained’ him during his stay in hospital
Recent news

Pope Francis thanks pilgrims for the prayers that ‘sustained’ him during his stay in hospital

(CNN) — Pope Francis thanked the pilgrims for their prayers, which he said “sustained” him during his recent hospital stay.

The Pope addressed pilgrims from the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Apartments during the Angelus prayer, which was postponed last week on the recommendation of doctors. Unlike other popes in the past, Pope Francis does not live there.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all those who supported me in prayer and in spiritual closeness,” the pope said on Sunday.

He said the support of pilgrims had given him “great help and comfort” as he recovered from abdominal surgery in a hospital in Rome.

The 86-year-old pontiff also took the opportunity to share his condolences with all those affected by the migrant boat incident off the coast of Greece this week.

The pope said he reflected on the incident with “great sadness and pain” and prayed for all those who lost their lives.

“As always, I pray that we do all we can to avoid similar tragedies,” he added.

Finally, he offered prayers for the “young people who have been attacked in Uganda”, calling for peace after the attack perpetrated this Friday by armed rebels against a school.