Cardinal Parolin returns to the Vatican after surgery

Cardinal Pietro Parolin returned to the Vatican after surgery, the director of the Holy See's press office said Tuesday.

Matteo Bruni confirmed on Monday December 15 that the Vatican Secretary of State was discharged from the hospital on Monday.

He added that the 65-year-old cardinal had "returned to the Vatican, where he will resume his functions".

Parolin was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic in Rome on December 8 for a planned surgery to treat the enlarged prostate.

The cardinal has been Vatican Secretary of State since 2013 and a member of the Council of Cardinals since 2014.

He was ordained a priest of the Italian Diocese of Vicenza in 1980. He was consecrated bishop in 2009, when he was appointed apostolic nuncio to Venezuela.

As Secretary of State, he oversaw the Holy See's rapprochement with China and traveled extensively on behalf of Pope Francis.

The Secretariat of State, long considered the most powerful department in the Vatican, has been rocked by a series of financial scandals in recent years. In August the pope wrote to Parolin explaining that he had decided to transfer responsibility for financial funds and real estate from the Secretariat.

Although the coronavirus crisis limited his travels this year, Parolin continued to make high-profile speeches, often delivered via video.

In September he addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the 75th anniversary of its foundation and also spoke about religious freedom together with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at a symposium in Rome organized by the US Embassy to the Holy See .