Pope John Paul II leaves hospital

March 13, 2005

Pope John Paul II has returned to the Vatican after spending two weeks in Rome's Gemelli Hospital. The 84 year old pontiff had been in hospital recovering from throat surgery after having experienced breathing difficulties brought on by flu.

When he arrived back in the Vatican, he addressed a large group of Pilgrims from his tenth floor room. Despite sounding quite hoarse, he managed to speak a few words – first in Polish then in Italian – to the audience below.