Pope John Paul left hospital today after a 10-day stay for severe breathing problems that revived concern about his fragile health and the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.
Seated in a glass-topped Popemobile, the 84-year-old Pontiff waved weakly to onlookers as he drove out of Rome's Gemelli hospital.
Hospital patients, some in their dressing gowns and slippers, lined the path and looked down from their balconies, clapping as the Pontiff passed.
The 84-year-old Pope was rushed to hospital on February 1st with acute breathing difficulties caused by influenza, complicated by Parkinson's disease.
But the Church was cautiously upbeat throughout the past 10 days and Vatican watchers said his high profile departure from hospital, broadcast live on Italian television, was intended to show he was relatively well.
Chief Vatican spokesman Mr Joaquin Navarro-Valls told reporters before the Pope's discharge today that the Pontiff had made a full recovery.
"The improvement of his overall condition is progressing favourably," the spokesman said, adding that other tests, including a CAT scan, had indicated there were no complications.