Vatican City, Feb 9, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Looking cheerful and imparting blessings to those who lined the streets of Rome to see him, Pope John Paul II arrived at the Vatican this evening, after spending nine days at the Gemelli Hospital.
The Pontiff left Gemelli at around 7:15pm local time and was transported in the popemobile accompanied by a small security detail. He arrived fifteen minutes later at the Holy See. The Pope had been hospitalized for an acute respiratory infection.
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the illness "which resulted in his urgent hospitalization has been cured." Navarro-Valls told the press the Pope is anxious to return to his normal work schedule and begin preparing his reflection for this Sunday's Angelus.