Pope Francis says the Catholic Church is open to everyone, including the gay community, and that it has a duty to accompany them on a personal path of spirituality but within the framework of its rules. The Pope, speaking to reporters on the plane returning to Rome from Portugal, also said his health was good following surgery for an abdominal hernia in June. He said his stitches had been removed but had to wear an abdominal band for another two or three months until his muscles strengthened. Flying back from the World Youth Day Catholic festival in Portugal, the 86-year-old Pope appeared in good form as he took questions for about half an hour at his customary freewheeling post-trip press conference.