ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has been discharged from the Rome hospital where he had abdominal surgery nine days earlier to repair a hernia and remove painful scarring. The 86-year-old Francis left in a wheelchair on Friday. He smiled and waved and said “thanks” to a crowd of well-wishers. He then stood up so he could get into the small Vatican car awaiting him. His surgeon told reporters that Francis “is better than before” the surgery. Francis will make his traditional Sunday noon appearance at an Apostolic window overlooking St. Peter’s Square to greet the public in an appointment that lasts about 10 minutes.