The pope looked well and spoke strongly one week after surgery, reports Gerard O’Connell. In addition to thanking people for their prayers, he called for universal health care and condemned violence in Haiti.

Pope Francis continues to make progress in his post-surgery recovery and celebrated Mass in a private chapel on Friday. America’s Vatican correspondent, Gerard O'Connell, reports.

Pope Francis, Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and the Rev. Jim Wallace, moderator of the Church of Scotland, marked the 10th anniversary of South Sudan’s independence and again promised to visit the country when it has a stable peace.

Pope Francis continues to recover well from the intestinal operation he underwent on July 4. He has walked in the corridor, resumed work, celebrated Mass, and is eating regularly.

Even though Pope Francis remains hospitalized while he recovers from intestinal surgery Sunday at a Rome hospital, he is still pope and very much in charge.

Before going to the hospital for colon surgery July 4, Pope Francis told a crowd in St. Peter’s Square that he would be visiting Hungary and Slovakia Sept. 12-15.