Pope recovering well from hernia surgery but to skip Sunday blessing

Pope Francis, underwent a three-hour operation to repair an abdominal hernia on Wednesday and was taken off intravenous tubes on Friday

All of Francis’ audiences are cancelled until June 18, giving him a month’s rest before a trip to Portugal on August 2

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A general view of the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalised in Rome. Pope Francis will remain in the hospital “probably for the whole of next week” after undergoing abdominal surgery on Wednesday, surgeon Sergio Alfieri said. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 8:57pm, 10 Jun 2023

Pope Francis’ recovery from surgery is going well but doctors advised him not to deliver his Sunday blessing from a hospital balcony to avoid strain on his abdomen.

Briefing reporters at the Gemelli hospital on Saturday, chief surgeon Sergio Alfieri also said the 86-year-old had agreed with doctors to stay there for at least all of next week.

Francis underwent a three-hour operation to repair an abdominal hernia on Wednesday.

“Only three days have passed. We asked the Holy Father to be prudent and avoid the strain (of standing at the balcony),” Alfieri said. “Each time he gets out of bed and sits in an armchair puts stress on the abdominal walls.”

A mesh prosthetic was inserted into the abdominal wall to help it heal and doctors want it to settle and attach properly to avoid another operation if it breaks, he added.

“You can understand how that would not be pleasing for him, and for me,” Alfieri joked.

Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said the pope would say Sunday’s traditional noon Angelus prayer in his hospital suite and the faithful could say it at the same time.