Pope “reacted well” to surgery

Holy Father's discharge date from colon surgery has not been announced.

Update: Pope Francis is in “good general condition, alert and breathing spontaneously” after the operation undergone July 4, declared the director of the Vatican press office, Matteo Bruni on July 5. A convalescence of about seven days, probably in the hospital, is expected, unless complications arise.

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Pope Francis underwent surgery on the evening of July 4, 2021, in the Polyclinic Gemelli, to address diverticular sigmoid stenosis.

According to the Vatican press office later that night, the Pope “reacted well” to the anesthesia and the operation.

Though announced only a few hours previous, the operation was planned for a long time.

The Holy Father chose the beginning of July, as this month is a time of reduced work for the Holy See.

Just before going to the hospital, the Pope announced during the Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square that he intends to make a trip to Slovakia and Budapest (Hungary) in September.

While the condition is usually benign (though other problems can be discovered during the operation), general anesthesia always represents a certain risk, especially for the elderly. Pope Francis is 84.

His discharge date has not been announced.

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