Rome, Italy - Pope John Paul II went home to the Vatican this evening, making the sign of the cross from the front seat of a Mercedes minivan on a day that raised hopes that his condition is much improved after this latest 18-day stay in the hospital.
Hundreds of well-wishers lined the ramp outside the Gemelli hospital complex shortly after 6 p.m. and were treated with a close-up view of the 84-year-old pope: He looked frail but steady in his usual white cassock as the Mercedes pulled out of the hospital, surrounded by security men jogging in dark suits.
This trip home was slightly lower key than the one he made on Feb. 10, on full display behind the windows of his Popemobile. But today, he was still clearly visible to the pilgrims and cameras - and the message was still sent that, to all appearances, he is rebounding from two bouts of the flu and a tracheotomy operation to ease severe breathing problems that raised deep fears about the pope's overall health.
"He's much better - and this is very important to me," said Nelle Colar, 31, a Roman who went to the hospital with his 9-year-old son, Stefan. As the minivan passed, well-wishers shouted: "Long live the Pope!"
Earlier in the day, the pope spoke his first words in public since the tracheotomy operation on Feb. 24, the day that he was rushed to the hospital for the second time last month.
"Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for your visit," he said in a raspy voice amplified from his 10th-story window for the hundreds of pilgrims outside the hospital. "To everyone, have a good Sunday and a good week."
The operation makes it difficult to speak, and doctors had been advising the pope to speak sparingly to speed his recovery. He had made three other appearances from his window since the operation, but had not spoken. On Friday, the Vatican released a video of him saying a few words - in Italian and English - during a visit of a delegation to the hospital.
The Vatican had not announced that he would be released today, saying last week only that he would go home before Palm Sunday, on March 20. As such, the pope, suffering from the advanced stages of Parkinson's disease, is leaving the hospital during one of the busiest times of the year at the Vatican: the week of Masses and celebrations leading up to Easter Sunday, on March 27, which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Vatican officials have said that the pope will decide himself how much to take part in the Holy Week ceremonies - and the extent to which he does may provide a clearer view of his overall health.
A Vatican statement announcing his discharge seemed aimed at tamping down any expectations: It did not speak of recovery, but said he was returning home "to continue his convalescence."