Pope recovering from surgery

At the end of the General Audience on Wednesday, 7 June, Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s A. Gemelli University Hospital to undergo a laparotomy and abdominal wall surgery under general anaesthesia, that same afternoon. The Holy See Press Office reported that the surgery and general anaesthesia were carried out without any complications and that the Holy Father had responded well to the surgery. On Thursday, 8 June, the Solemnity of Corpus Domini, the Pope received the Eucharist at the hospital. In order “to allow for a normal post-operative course and full functional recovery”, Pope Francis is expected to remain in hospital for several days, and will be unable to participate in the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, which will take place on Saturday, 10 June, in Saint Peter’s Square and simultaneously in eight other cities around the world.

Please see next week’s edition for coverage of the event.