Pope Francis undergoes successful abdominal surgery: Updates and recovery progress

Pope Francis’ Abdominal Surgery Passed Without Complications Today reports The Vatican. The Pope is likely to remain in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for several more days.

The pope underwent abdominal surgery, according to the Vatican. The operation would have taken three hours. The pope is now back in his private room, writes the Italian news agency ANSA. In order to recover, he will not hold any audiences for the next eleven days.

Earlier today, Francis held his weekly audience. He then drove to the hospital under police escort.

The pope already underwent intestinal surgery in 2021 in which part of his colon was removed. He suffers from diverticulitis, a condition more common in older people. This causes bulges in the wall of the large intestine, which sometimes leads to inflammation.

At the beginning of this year, the pope already told the AP news agency that the condition had returned. “I could die tomorrow, but it’s under control. I’m in good health,” he joked.