Pope Returns to Vatican from Hospital Pope John Paul II returns to the Vatican from a Rome hospital, a little over two weeks after undergoing a tracheotomy to help him breathe. Earlier Sunday, he uttered his first public words since the surgery, greeting the faithful from his hospital window.

Religion

Pope Returns to Vatican from Hospital

March 13, 200512:00 AM ET

Sylvia Poggioli

Pope Returns to Vatican from Hospital

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Pope John Paul II returns to the Vatican from a Rome hospital, a little over two weeks after undergoing a tracheotomy to help him breathe. Earlier Sunday, he uttered his first public words since the surgery, greeting the faithful from his hospital window.

Pope John Paul II makes the sign of the blessing as he leaves Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic hospital, March 13, 2005. Reuters hide caption

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Reuters