ITALY: POPE JOHN PAUL II VISITS SICK CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL

(15 Oct 1996) Natural Sound The Pope has been visiting sick children in Gemelli hospital in Rome as he prepares to leave himself. Doctors removed stitches from Pope John Paul II on Tuesday and gave him the all clear to return to the Vatican after his appendectomy a week ago. Before leaving his 10th floor suite at the hospital the pontiff bid farewell to young patients on the floor. Hours before his expected check-out on Tuesday, the Pope walked from his hospital suite to a children's cancer ward. He visited the young patients, aged between 4 months and 15 years, for about 20 minutes. Doctors hope the 76-year-old Pope takes it easy as he recuperates. But that seems unlikely. According to the Vatican, he resumed work from his hospital bed days after the operation on October 8th. Doctor Corrado Manni, the Pope's anaesthesiologist, says the pontiff should go easy on himself. Manni says the surgical wound looks fine, and he expects John Paul to be back in form in time to lead celebrations in early November for the 50th anniversary of his ordination. As a result of the surgery, the Pope won't have to repeat weakening antibiotic treatments administered for his previous bouts of fever. The pontiff's physicians have declared the operation a success, and say he is recovering well. They say the removal of the appendix, which was inflamed, will bring an end to the bouts of fever. John Paul leaves the hospital in Rome a day before celebrating the 18th anniversary of his being elected pope by cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...