Pope expected to return from hospital to the Vatican soon

Pope Francis is greeted by hospital staff as he sits in a wheelchair inside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclini (Vatican Media via AP)

Pope Francis is expected to return to the Vatican “as soon as possible” following his stay in hospital for rehabilitation from intestinal surgery that he underwent earlier this month, the Vatican has said.

The Vatican did not provide a target date in its daily medical update, repeating that the 84-year-old pope was continuing his planned course of treatment and rehabilitation.