Hospitalized Pope Francis walks a bit, follows Mass on TV, lunches with medical personnel and aides

Pope Francis has followed his doctors' advice and skipped his customary Sunday noon public blessing as he convalesces from abdominal surgery. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the pope followed Mass on television in the morning, then prayed the noon prayer privately in a small chapel area of his private apartment in a Rome hospital. Francis then had lunch with doctors, nurses and other medical staff, as well as and members of his Vatican security detail. Later, the Vatican said the pope took a few steps and did some work. On Saturday, his surgeon told reporters that Francis had been advised to skip the exertion of delivering the traditional blessing and commentary.