Pope recovers well, but may not perform Sunday blessing

Pope Francis’ recovery from surgery is going well, but doctors have advised him not to deliver his Sunday blessing from a hospital balcony so as not to strain his abdominal walls, doctors said on Saturday.

Briefing reporters at the Gemelli hospital, chief surgeon Sergio Alfieri also said the 86-year-old pope agreed with doctors’ suggestions that he remain there for at least the next week.

Surgery

Francisco underwent a three-hour operation on Wednesday to repair a hernia, which doctors said was successful enough that he will not have limitations on his travels and other activities after recovery.

It is Francis’ third hospitalization since the cardinals chose the Argentine in 2013 as the first Latin American pope, the latest in a series of health problems for him.

In July 2021, he had part of his colon removed in an operation intended to treat a painful intestinal condition called diverticulitis. He said this year that the condition had returned and was affecting his weight.

Doctor Sergio Alfieri, the chief surgeon who operated on the pope at the Gemelli hospital in Rome, said on Wednesday that Francis responded well to the general anesthetic and that he expects the pope to stay in the hospital for about five to seven days.

Francis has two trips planned — to Portugal, August 2-6, to participate in World Youth Day and visit the Sanctuary of Fatima; and to Mongolia, from 31 August to 4 September.

*Posted by Pedro Zanatta, CNN.