Pope to undergo surgery for hernia, expected to remain in hospital June 7, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis was scheduled to undergo surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital June 7 to treat a hernia that had developed at an incision of a previous operation, the Vatican said. The pope was to be put under general anesthesia and undergo abdominal surgery involving “plastic surgery on the abdominal wall with prosthesis,” Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, said in a brief statement released shortly after the pope’s morning general audience June 7. He was expected to remain in the hospital for several days. The operation, “agreed upon in recent days by the medical team assisting the Holy Father, has become necessary due to an incisional hernia” causing “recurring, painful and worsening” intestinal blockage, the statement said. An incisional hernia might occur at the site of an incision in the abdominal wall. The pope briefly visited the Gemelli hospital’s geriatric medical center for a medical checkup and tests June 6. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, he was there for some 40 minutes before returning to the Vatican. Pope Francis was previously hospitalized for 10 days in July 2021 to treat diverticulitis, a condition marked by the inflammation of bulges lining the intestine, and underwent a surgery that removed part of his colon. In January 2023, the pope told the Associated Press that the bulges in his intestinal wall had returned. The pope has said that he did not respond well to the general anesthetic used during his colon operation and said that reaction was part of the reason he declined having torn ligaments in his knee operated on. For more than a year Pope Francis has been using a wheelchair in many of his public events. Read More Vatican News Pope Leo says Sunday is ‘foundation and kernel’ of liturgical year Vatican announces ‘disarming technology’ will be theme of next World Day of Peace Security issues show AI needs greater human oversight, say Catholic experts Pope appeals for peace in Sudan, prays for victims in Ukraine-Russia conflict Pope Leo XIV offers prayers, condolences as bishops urge solidarity following Colombia earthquake In France, pope to highlight life, unity; Vatican confirms he’ll meet with abuse victims Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
