Recovered pope released from hospital

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II left a Rome hospital in his white popemobile Thursday, 10 days after suffering breathing spasms that left him bedridden and rekindled debate about his ability to continue leading the Roman Catholic Church.\nUnder heavy security, the 84-year-old pope was bundled into the vehicle inside a covered entrance to Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic to shield him from the winter chill. Police sealed off St. Peter's Square to tourists, and hundreds of cheering Romans lined the route to the Vatican.\nThe pontiff waved to the crowds and blessed the faithful standing along the two and one-half mile route to the Vatican. His return was broadcast live on television.\nThe bulletproof popemobile is equipped with a hydraulic lift, which makes it easier for the pontiff, who walks with difficulty, to get into than a limousine.\nPapal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said at midday Thursday that the frail pope had recovered completely from the breathing crisis that led to his urgent hospitalization Feb. 1, and his general condition continued to improve.\nNavarro-Valls said a battery of tests, including a CT scan, had ruled out any new illnesses.\nThe pope, who also suffers from Parkinson's disease and crippling hip and knee ailments, was rushed by ambulance to Gemelli two days after coming down with the flu. A Vatican official said the situation was "serious, very serious" when he first arrived at the hospital.\nThe pope's return to his apartment in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace coincided with the start of a traditional Lenten period of spiritual reflection for the pontiff, during which he has no public ceremonies. The break will give the pope a chance to regain his strength before Easter services without having to cancel anything.\n"When he gets back to the Vatican he will look over and decide with his doctors what his appointments will be," Navarro-Valls said.\nJohn Paul also planned to send a thank-you note to the doctors and nurses who attended him, the spokesman said.\nJohn Paul's hospitalization forced him to skip the Ash Wednesday ritual in St. Peter's Basilica for the first time in his 26-year papacy.\nDoctors at Gemelli never publicly discussed the pope's condition, but the Vatican press office issued its own medical bulletin every few days tersely describing his continued improvement. His doctors persuaded him to prolong his hospitalization just to be on the safe side.\nThe faithful will be watching Sunday to see if he makes another window appearance like he did last week from the hospital. Throughout the pope's hospitalization, scores of pilgrims from all over the world stood vigil beneath his window, trying to cheer him with prayers and songs.