Il Nuovo Postiglione - Pope leads Vatican prayers after surgery

Francis expressed his gratitude to those who had sent him messages of support during his stay at Rome's Gemelli hospital as he spent 10 days convalescing.

"I want to express my gratitude for the affection, the concern, the friendship" expressed in those messages of support, the Argentine pontiff said, following his third stay in hospital in the past two years.

"This human support has been a great help and comfort to me," said Francis to cheers and applause from the thousands assembled in the square.

The 86-year-old has suffered a series of health issues since his election in 2013, from hip problems, knee pain and weight gain, to an inflamed colon and respiratory infection.

He underwent a three-hour operation under general anaesthetic on June 7 to remove a painful hernia on the site of a scar from a previous surgery.

Francis reiterated his "profound sadness and pain" over last week's trawler sinking off Greece, which resulted in the drownings of at least 78 migrants aboard with hundreds more missing.

"It seems, it seems, the sea was calm. I renew my prayer for those who lost their lives and I urge everything be done, always, to prevent such tragedies," said Francis.

"I pray for the young student victims of the brutal attack against a school in western Uganda," the pope said during the weekly Angelus prayer.

While able to take weekly prayers and looking in good form following his latest hospital stay, the pontiff has cut back his commitments for the coming week, notably cancelling a weekly audience Wednesday.

M.Dodaro--INP