Pope Francis returned to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Wednesday, where he will undergo surgery earlier this afternoon, for which he will be hospitalized for at least two days, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
The head of the Catholic Church, remember, was in this hospital ward on Tuesday to conduct medical examinations.
Early Wednesday afternoon, the 86-year-old pope will undergo a “laparotomy,” with general anesthesia, on the abdominal wall, said Matteo Bruni of the Vatican news agency.
“The operation, planned in recent days by the medical team assisting the Holy Father, has become necessary due to an incarcerated hernia.” situation that provokes “recurrent and painful symptoms”, explained the official, quoted by ANSA, stating that the hospitalization “will last several days to allow for a normal postoperative period and full recovery”.
According to the AP, laparotomy is open abdominal surgery that can help a surgeon diagnose and treat problems.
According to the AP, the Pope appeared to be in good shape during this morning’s weekly audience at the Vatican, having continued to circle St. Peter’s Square in his “Popemobile” to greet the faithful. Francis also held two meetings this morning, according to the Vatican.
In July 2021, Pope Francis had already undergone surgery to remove 33 centimeters of his colon. He was hospitalized for 10 days. The pope suffered from severe inflammation and narrowing of the colon.
The last time Pope Francis was hospitalized for a respiratory infection in late March, after which he was diagnosed with viral bronchitis, for which he required antibiotics. At that time, he was discharged from Gemelli Hospital after three days in hospital.
In an interview with the AP last January, Francis said he was once again troubled by the problem that forced surgery in 2021: diverticulitis, or bulges in the intestinal wall.
The pope had part of a lung removed when he was young and also suffers from sciatic nerve pain. Due to knee problems, he has been in a wheelchair and walker for more than a year.
Visit to Portugal planned for the first week of August, on the occasion of WYD
Francis has had a very busy schedule lately, with several audiences every day.
The Vatican has recently confirmed that the month of August will be filled with travel, most notably with a visit to Portugal in the first week of August – for World Youth Day – and an equally long trip to Mongolia from August 31.
On Tuesday, the Vatican released the planned itinerary for Francis’ visit to Portugal for World Youth Day, August 2-6.
The itinerary confirms a usually busy schedule, with all the protocol meetings of an official state visit, as well as several youth events and a day trip to the Sanctuary of Fatima.
The official program of Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Portugal, from August 2 to 6, on the occasion of World Youth Day, has already been announced!
Know the program
https://t.co/dRALNpwcmm pic.twitter.com/RvLbw5u7pk– WYD Lisbon 2023 (@jmj_pt) June 6, 2023
With Lusa
Source: DN
