- Pope Francis, 84, was in the hospital on Monday for rehabilitation after surgery for inflammation of the colon.
- Argentines may be hospitalized for at least five days.
- The Vatican said it could not confirm the length of stay.
Pope Francis, 84, was recovering from surgery for inflammation of the colon in the hospital on Monday. This potential pain may leave him in bed for several days.
The Pope was taken to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Sunday to undergo scheduled surgery for symptomatic colonic diverticulum stenosis under general anesthesia.
Afterwards, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that he “reacted well to the operation.”
The Vatican Press Office told AFP on Monday that it expects to issue a new medical bulletin around noon (1000 GMT).
A week ago, on the eve of St. Peter and Paul’s Day, Francis seemed to have hinted at the upcoming operation. He said: “I ask you to pray for the pope in a special way. The pope needs your prayers”.
According to the Italian news agency Ansa, Argentines may be hospitalized for at least five days.
The Vatican said it could not confirm the length of stay.
The Pope has postponed his regular audience on Wednesday to summer, and there are no other official appointments in his calendar until next Sunday he will preside over the Three Bells Prayer.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi sent Francis “Affectionate blessings for a speedy recovery” on Monday, and Sheikh Ahmed Taib, the great imam of Al-Azhar University, also wished him “a speedy recovery.”
Read here | Pope Francis undergoes colon surgery-Vatican
According to the Catholic website Cruxnow.com, Francis and Pope John Paul II used the same suite on the 10th floor of the Gemelli Hospital.
It said that the late Pope underwent multiple operations there, including after trying his life in 1981, and a colon tumor in 1992.
Francis’ condition can lead to potentially painful inflammation of the diverticulum, which is a pocket that can form in the wall of the colon and tends to increase exponentially with age.
“Narrowing” here refers to the abnormal narrowing of the colon. Patients with diverticulitis may experience lower abdominal pain, fever, or rectal bleeding.
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According to the American Association of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, this condition may be caused by high pressure in the colon or a low-fiber and high-red meat diet.
The pope arrived at the clinic in the afternoon accompanied by a driver and a close assistant. Italian media said he was in the operating room a few hours later.
Francis was born in Argentina on December 17, 1936, and lost part of his right lung at the age of 21. He also suffers from hip joint problems and sciatica.
