Pope Francis, 86, began severaldays of convalescence after his surgery for an abdominal hernia in a Rome hospital on Thursday after spending a "quiet night" amid questions about his health.
The Argentine pope has had recurring health problems since he succeeded Benedict XVI in 2013, who resigned for health reasons and died last December at age 95.
"He's awake"
"The pope spent a quiet night and managed to rest for a long time. His general health is good, he is awake and breathing naturally," said Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press service, who quoted the pontiff's medical team.
"Follow-up exams are good. Throughout the day he will observe a necessary postoperative rest," he added in a statement published at midday in which he added that the pope was grateful for the numerous messages received.
Bruni referred to Francisco's recovery after being subjected on Wednesday for three hours to a laparotomy and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall with prostheses under general anesthesia, by a team led by Professor Sergio Alfieri.
The Gemelli hospital in Rome, where the pontiff is located. Photo: EFE
The Pope was operated on for an incisional hernia with risk of intestinal obstruction, product of his previous colon operation in 2021.
The Pope makes jokes
From the staff of the University Hospital it is clear that the situation is calm, there is no more news after those already communicated to the press on Wednesday night by Professor Alfieri about the fact that the Pontiff had "reacted well to the surgery", that he was "alert and aware" and that he did not stop "making jokes".
The postoperative course is currently developing as expected.
Among the many reactions and testimonies of closeness on social networks, there is that of Father Antonio Spadaro, a personality very close to the Pontiff: "Yes, it has a strong fiber. But above all a lot of faith and... A great sense of humor. Always and in spite of everything," he said.
Questions about the future
Francis has stated on several occasions that he would consider resigning, as his predecessor did, if his health worsens, but he said recently that this is not the current scenario.
The pope suffers from chronic pain in his knee and hips, forcing him to move around in a wheelchair or with the help of a cane.
The pope suffers from chronic pain in his knee and hips, forcing him to move around in a wheelchair. Photo: EFE
On Tuesday, control studies were carried out at the Gemelli, without details about what kind of tests were performed. On Wednesday he presided as always at the usual audience in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.
But immediately afterwards he went to the Gemelli hospital in Rome where he underwent surgery, a three-hour intervention under general anesthesia to remove painful "adhesions" in the abdominal wall as a result of a colon operation in April 2021.
His surgeon said it was a "benign" intervention that will not leave sequelae and stressed that the pope does not suffer from other pathologies.
Now, Francis should spend several days admitted to the tenth floor of the Gemelli Polyclinic, known as the "hospital of the popes," in the same room that John Paul II occupied on numerous occasions.
Source: ANSA and AFP
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