“The holy father is well, awake and alert,” surgeon Sergio Alfieri, who headed the team that intervened to resolve an abdominal laparocele or ulcerated hernia, said.
The surgery lasted three hours and Francis, 86, is expected to stay for several days in the hospital as a precaution.
“He has already told me his first one-liner,” the surgeon added, saying the pontiff was in good spirits.
Indeed, the Pope was quick with the wit immediately after he woke up
“When are we going to do the third one,” he quipped, referring to the fact that Alfieri also operated on him in July 2021, for a colon issue.
While the pontiff has battled several health issues in recent years, and uses a cane and a wheelchair, Alfieri said he has no other diseases.
“The surgery two years ago was for a benign pathology, the diverticular stenosis is benign, the pathology for which he was operated on today is benign and will leave no trace,” he said.
“The hospital stay will be between five and seven days, he is 86 years old and has already undergone four operations.
“He is being looked after by his assistant these days, it’s not an emergency situation,” Alfieri added.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the Pope very much appreciated the goodwill of the many who have wished him a speedy recovery.
“Pope Francis ... is grateful for the many messages of closeness and prayer that have reached him since the beginning,” Bruni, the director of the Vatican Press Office, said.
ANSA
