 Pope Francis has returned to the Vatican 11 days after undergoing surgery at a Rome hospital to remove part of his colon. The Pope got out of a car and shook hands with military and police officers before entering the Vatican gate. Before returning to the Vatican, Francis stopped to pray at the Rome Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Francis normally does this at the end of each foreign trip to give thanks to the Madonna. Earlier, two cars escorted by the Vatican security left Gemelli Hospital via its side entrance shortly before 11am after staff had put a wheelchair in the trunk of one of the vehicles. The 84-year-old Pope had part of his colon removed on July 4. On Sunday, he made his first public appearance since the surgery, standing for about 10 minutes while speaking from the balcony of his suite.