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Pope skips Sunday blessing, recovering normally from surgery

A general view of the Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalised for surgery on his abdomen, in Rome, Italy, on 10th June, 2023.

Rome, Italy Reuters Pope Francis did not deliver his Sunday blessing in public but his recovery from surgery was progressing normally and he has begun physical therapy to help his breathing, the Vatican said.  As previously announced, the 86-year-old pope did not say his Sunday traditional noon Angelus prayer in public and watched Mass on […]

Pope recovering well from surgery but to skip Sunday blessing

Professor Sergio Alfieri and Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni speak to the media at the Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalised for surgery on his abdomen, in Rome, Italy, on 10th June, 2023

Rome, ItalyReuters Pope Francis’ recovery from surgery is going well but doctors advised him not to deliver his Sunday blessing from a hospital balcony to avoid strain on his abdomen. Briefing reporters at the Gemelli hospital on Saturday, chief surgeon Sergio Alfieri also said the 86-year-old had agreed with doctors to stay there for at […]

Pope “progressively improving”, off IV tubes, moving about

Flowers are seen at the statue of Pope John Paul II at Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalised for surgery on his abdomen, in Rome, Italy, on 9th June, 2023.

Rome, ItalyReuters Pope Francis’ overall condition is progressively improving and his post-surgical recovery is normal, allowing him to get out of bed, be detached from intravenous tubes and resume handling some church work from his hospital armchair on Friday. Two statements from the Vatican, one in the early afternoon and the other in the evening, […]

Pope Francis doing well after first night in hospital, Vatican says

A general view of the Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalised for a surgery on his abdomen, in Rome, Italy, on 8th June, 2023.

Rome, ItalyReuters Pope Francis was doing well on Thursday morning after his first night in hospital following abdominal surgery, the Vatican said. “The night went well,” the Vatican said in a brief statement, adding that more information would be released later in the morning.  A general view of the Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis is […]

Pope undergoes surgery, doctors say successful enough that he can travel

Pope Francis greets a nun during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on 7th June, 2023.

Rome, ItalyReuters Pope Francis underwent a three-hour operation in a Rome hospital on Wednesday to repair a hernia, which doctors said was successful enough that he should have no limitations on his travels and other activities after he recovers. “He even joked with me about when we would do the third operation,” said chief surgeon […]

Pope denies resignation report, defends deal with China, chide’s West’s Afghan war

Pope Francis radio interview

Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis is not thinking of resigning and is living “a totally normal life” following intestinal surgery in July, he said in a radio interview broadcast on Wednesday.  Speaking to Spanish radio network COPE, Francis, 84, dismissed an Italian newspaper report that he might step down, saying: “I don’t know where they got […]

Pope to skip Sunday Mass but will make regular noon address – Vatican

Pope Francis Gemelli Hospital Angelus prayer

Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis will skip a Mass on Sunday that he had been scheduled to say before his recent surgery, but the Vatican said there was no cause for alarm and that it was part of normal convalescence. Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from a balcony of the Gemelli hospital, as he recovers […]

Two weeks post-surgery, Pope Francis appears at Vatican window

Vatican Pope Francis Angelus 18 July

Vatican CityAP Two weeks after surgery that removed a portion of his colon, Pope Francis on Sunday resumed his weekly appearances from a Vatican window to bless the faithful in St Peter’s Square. Francis, 84, sounded cheerful but somewhat winded at one point while speaking for 14 minutes. Pope Francis waves to the crowd as […]

Pope Francis returns to Vatican 10 days after surgery

Pope Francis greets police after hospital release

Rome, ItalyAP Pope Francis was discharged from a Rome hospital and returned home to the Vatican on Wednesday, 10 days after undergoing surgery to remove half his colon. Francis, 84, stopped at St Mary Major Basilica to give thanks for the success of the operation and pray for others before returning home, the Vatican said. […]