Pope Francis resumed his cherished Sunday custom of greeting the public, he led Angelus prayers at Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican before thousands of pilgrims, on Sunday June 18, Just two days after leaving hospital following a hernia surgery.

The Pope expressed his gratitude to those who had sent him messages of support during his stay at Rome's Gemelli hospital as he spent ten days convalescing.  

"I want to express my gratitude for the affection, the concern, the friendship" expressed in those messages of support, the Argentine pontiff said, following his third stay in hospital in the past two years.

“This human support has been a great help and comfort to me,” said Francis to cheers and applause from the thousands assembled in the square.

Pope Francis reiterated his "profound sadness and pain" over last week's trawler sinking off Greece, which resulted in the drownings of at least 78 migrants aboard with hundreds more missing.

“It seems, it seems, the sea was calm. I renew my prayer for those who lost their lives and I urge everything be done, always, to prevent such tragedies,” said Francis.

He also condemned Friday night’s “brutal attack” by suspected jihadists on a school in Uganda where 41 mostly student victims were hacked, shot and burned to death while others remain missing.

“I pray for the young student victims of the brutal attack against a school in western Uganda,” the pope said during the weekly Angelus prayer.

Francis also urged people to remember the "martyred people in Ukraine," following Russia's invasion last year.

As he wrapped up his remarks and was about to leave the window, cries of "Long live the pope" in Italian rose from the crowd, and the pope quickly responded, "Thanks."