Stephen Hawking released from hospital in Rome

The celebrated physicist underwent two days of tests

The 74-year-old had been in the capital to attend a conference at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and had a meeting with Pope Francis (Getty Images for Breakthrough Pr)

Stephen Hawking has been released from hospital in Rome after undergoing two days of checks.

The world famous physicist was taken to the Gemelli hospital on Thursday night after he was reported to be feeling unwell.

The 74-year-old had been in the capital to attend a conference at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and also had a meeting with Pope Francis last Monday.

The hospital, deemed to be one of the best in the country and where popes are treated, said Hawking was in good condition and would be travelling back to the UK.

Hawking has motor neuron disease, which is known as Gehrig's Disease in the US, and speaks through a speech-generating computer and travels with a staff that includes two nurses.

The physicist, cosmologist, and professor has voiced his opinion on everything from Brexit to Donald Trump in recent weeks. In a column last Thursday he urged the human race to pull together and “break down barriers” in the wake of the billionaire mogul's victory in the US and the Brexit vote in the UK. He said it would be a “terrible mistake” to overlook the underlying factors behind both seismic decisions.

Nevertheless, Hawking recently said even he is not cut out to tackle Brexit. While receiving an award from Theresa May at the Pride of Britain Awards at the beginning of November, he quipped: “I deal with tough mathematical questions every day, but please don’t ask me to help with Brexit”.

Additional reporting by Reuters