Pope Francis prayed the Angelus prayer from the hospital for the first time in his pontificate.

After his bowel operation a week ago, he thanked him on Sunday from a balcony on the 10th floor of the Gemelli Clinic in Rome "wholeheartedly" for the good wishes and thoughts.

He particularly emphasized the commitment of the medical and nursing staff.

In addition to the head of the church, there were also some sick children on the balcony.

The 84-year-old Pope himself made a sprightly impression and completed the entire address while standing.

During the days of his hospital stay, he learned how important it is to have a good, free and accessible health system.

“We must not lose this valuable asset.

We have to take care of it, ”stressed Francis.

Everyone must stand up for this and make their contribution.

The church is sometimes also tempted to sell one of its own health facilities, such as a hospital, if it is economically bad.

But the mission of the church is not to make money, stressed Francis.

Ultimately, the Church's service to the sick must always be free of charge, continued the Pope.

Pope: closeness is like an anointing

Numerous people had gathered in front of the hospital to cheer the Pope. Francis expressed his appreciation and encouragement to the doctors and everyone in the health service or nursing. At the same time he remembered all the sick, especially sick children. According to Francis, it is difficult to understand the suffering of children. But nobody is left alone with their illness.

In the Gospel of the Day, Mark speaks of Jesus' disciples anointing and healing the sick with oil, the Pope continues.

The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick undoubtedly makes reference to this episode.

But the oil is also symbolic of the listening, the closeness, the care and the loving attention of those who take care of the sick.

“We all need this 'anointing' sooner or later, and we can give it to others with a visit, a phone call, an outstretched hand,” affirmed Francis.

Traditionally the Popes' clinic

Exactly a week ago, the Pope went to the Gemelli Clinic for a planned medical operation, where he had been operated on on the bowel that evening. The left part of his colon was removed. Since then, Francis has been recovering in a hospital apartment that was kept free for him. When the Pope will be released is still open.

For Francis it is the first stay in the clinic, where traditionally the popes are cared for. The Roman hospital became known under Pope John Paul II, who even gave it the name “Third Vatican”, after the actual Vatican and the papal summer residence Castel Gandolfo. John Paul II was inpatient at the Gemelli Clinic for the first time immediately after the attack on him in 1981. Further stays followed and with them numerous Angelus prayers from the window of the Pope's hospital room on the 10th floor. The Polish Pope was last in the Roman hospital in 2005 shortly before his death.