Pope Francis awoke Thursday after a restful first night in the hospital following a three-hour operation to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair an abdominal hernia caused by previous surgeries.
“The night went well,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in an early Thursday statement, adding that more information would be released later.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, director of abdominal and endocrine sciences at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said the operation on Wednesday went well and that no complications or other pathologies were discovered. Alfieri, who also removed a portion of Francis’ colon in 2021, told a press conference in the evening that the pope was awake, alert, and even joking.
“When are we going to do the third one?” Francis was quoted as saying.
The pontiff was expected to stay in the 10th floor papal suite at Gemelli for several days, and all papal audiences were canceled through June 18. The Vatican was expected to provide a medical update later Thursday.
The pontiff was expected to stay in the 10th floor papal suite at Gemelli for several days, and all papal audiences were canceled through June 18. The Vatican was expected to provide a medical update later Thursday.
