Pope returns to the Vatican four days after surgery

Pope Leo left hospital in Rome on Saturday to return to the Vatican four days after surgery for lung cancer.

His surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli, accompanied him to the hospital door as he was formally discharged.　The 71-year-old walked unaided to his waiting car, stopping to speak to well-wishers outside Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

"I am better, thank you," the pope said when asked how he was as he was driven away in a black SUV.

Ten minutes after leaving the hospital, the pope entered the Vatican gates. He is due to greet the faithful with the traditional Angelus blessing on Sunday, a week after announcing that doctors had found a nodule on his lung.