The 86-year-old Pope Francis successfully underwent hernia surgery on Wednesday at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. According to the Vatican, the operation was performed under general anesthesia, lasted three hours and went smoothly. The Pope is already in his room.
According to the official representative of the Vatican, Matteo Bruni, the hernia caused “recurrent, painful and worsening” symptoms, so doctors decided to remove it. “The stay in the medical facility will last several days to ensure a normal post-operative course and full functional recovery,” Bruni added.
In recent years, the pontiff has faced a series of health problems and uses a cane and wheelchair due to constant knee pain. On Tuesday, my father went to the same Roman hospital for a routine checkup. In March, he spent three days in the hospital for treatment of a lung infection, and in 2021, Pope Francis spent 10 days in the hospital after having part of his colon removed. Last month, the Pope canceled his Friday audience due to high temperatures.
But despite his health problems, my dad still has a busy schedule and is scheduled to visit Portugal and Mongolia in August. “You do not lead the Church with your knees, but with your head,” the pontiff said last year, rejecting the possibility of resigning.