Pope John Paul II leaves Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Sunday where he was hospitalized after undergoing surgery to ease his breathing. The pontiff returned to his apartment overlooking St. Peter's Square after reassuring the world's Roman Catholic faithful, in his own raspy voice, that he is on the mend.

It was unclear whether the pope, who for the past few years managed a heavy workload while battling Parkinson's disease, will be able to rebound enough to resume his old rhythms at the Vatican, which include frequent audiences, speeches and other engagements. The Vatican said today that it decided not to issue a new medical update on the pope, saying the acute phase of his latest health crisis was over.