Appearing In Public After Surgery, Pope Francis Calls For Free Health Care

Pope Francis. (Wikimedia Commons/Aleteia Image Department)

JAKARTA - The leader of the world's Catholics, Pope Francis, for the first time appeared in public in good health, last Sunday, July 11, after undergoing intestinal surgery last week.

The Pope stepped out of the balcony of his room on the 10th floor of Rome's Gemelli hospital, Italy to lead his weekly prayer to hundreds of cheering people below. He stood for about 10 minutes.

In his address yesterday, Pope Francis said good health care should be accessible to all and free.

"In these days I was in the hospital, I saw once again how important it is to have a good health care system accessible to everyone, like the one in Italy and in other countries," he said.

"Health care that is free and guarantees good service is accessible to all. This precious good must not be lost. It must be preserved and everyone must commit to this. Because everyone needs it," the Pope said.

On this occasion, Pope Francis also strongly criticized the managers of Church-run hospitals, whose first thought was to close services when experiencing economic difficulties.

It is the first time since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has not read his Sunday prayers and messages from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square, as was expected when he travels.

"Your vocation as a Church is not to have money, but to serve, and service is always free," criticized the Pope, who on this occasion also called for an end to violence in Haiti, after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

The Vatican does not issue a daily medical bulletin on Sunday. On Saturday it said the pope was continuing a normal recovery, gradually resuming work, walking and eating with aides, and that his blood tests were satisfactory.

Previously, the team of doctors who carried out the treatment estimated that Pope Francis would be hospitalized for seven days. However, there is no indication of when he will be released from the hospital.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered in the open space below shouting "Viva il Papa!" (Long live the Pope) and wave the national flag. Doctors and patients stand on another balcony to watch. Some of the children who were patients in the hospital appeared with the Pope on the balcony.

"It's great to see the Pope again, his voice trembles a bit but the Pope has always been pope and we want to be here," said an Italian priest who identified himself as Father Massimiliano.