Pope Francis underwent surgery on the abdomen at the Gemelli hospital in Rome. "The surgery ended: it took place without complications and lasted three hours," the Vatican Press Office announced. The pontiff was then taken back to his apartment on the tenth floor of the polyclinic.
According to what was previously learned by ANSA, the surgery - necessary for a laparocele - took place under general anesthesia to perform a laparotomy and plastic of the abdominal wall with prostheses. To operate it is the team of Professor Sergio Alfieri who had already operated two years ago. The pope's audiences have been canceled until June 18.
ANSA.it
The surgeon Alfieri will operate on the Pope, it's the second time - Health & Wellness
The first in July 2021.From the school of the Pope's surgeons (ANSA)
The Pontiff entered the Gemelli from the main entrance, greeted by a small crowd of journalists and onlookers.
Pope Francis, the arrival at Gemelli
"The operation, arranged in recent days by the medical team that assists the Holy Father, was necessary because of an incarcerated laparocele that is causing recurrent, painful and worsening sub-occlusive syndromes. The stay at the health facility will last several days to allow the normal post-operative course and full functional recovery", said the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni.
THE PODCAST
"Your Holiness, in view of your admission to the Gemelli Polyclinic, I would like to send you my best wishes for the positive outcome of the operation to which you will be subjected this afternoon. The Italian people are close to you with sentiments of affection and solidarity, which I make fully mine. At this time, in addition to the prayers of the Catholic faithful, she can count on the shared thoughts of countless people, believers and non-believers alike. I renew to Your Holiness my most sincere wishes for a peaceful convalescence, and for a prompt and complete recovery". Sergio Mattarella writes in a message to the Pope.
ANSA.it
Laparocele, the hernia from which the Pope suffers
Gastroenterologist: 'It forms on top of a scar'
Here is the hernia from which Pope Francis suffers
"You have seen the press release, I believe there are no other words to add. We follow him with our affection - this is how Cardinal Pietro Parolin replied to journalists on the state of the Pope's health - we follow him with our prayers, hoping that everything can be resolved as soon as possible and he returns to the exercise of his ministry". Asked if he is worried, he replied: "I don't know what to say because I have no elements to say either way. It seemed to me that the communiqué tried to say things in a very technical way, which perhaps is not so easy even to understand, but to give the elements that allow us to frame the problem".
The surgeon Alfieri operates on the Pope, it is the second time.
ANSA Agency
Francesco's health, from sciatica to cataracts
As a young man he also underwent lung surgery.