On Wednesday, June 7th, 2023, Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital where he was to undergo abdominal surgery. The 86-year-old pontiff is expected to remain in the hospital for several days following the procedure.
The Vatican released a statement on Wednesday confirming that Pope Francis would be undergoing abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. According to the statement, the surgery is being done to repair a hernia in his abdomen. This is not the first time Pope Francis has been hospitalized this year; he was previously admitted for a routine checkup in March of this year.
The news of Pope Francis’ hospitalization and impending surgery has sparked renewed concern about his health among Catholics around the world. Many have taken to social media to express their support and prayers for the pope’s recovery. Cardinal Blase Cupich tweeted “Let us join together in prayer for @Pontifex as he undergoes an operation today.”
The Vatican has assured Catholics that there is no cause for alarm and that they are confident that Pope Francis will make a full recovery following his surgery. In a statement released by Vatican News, they said: “We are confident that His Holiness will soon be able to return home and continue with his ministry.”
Pope Francis’ health has been closely monitored since he became pope in 2013 due to his age and history of health issues including sciatica, arthritis, and a lung infection. Despite these issues, Pope Francis has remained active throughout his papacy and continues to travel extensively around the world spreading his message of peace and compassion.
It is unclear at this time when Pope Francis will be able to resume his duties as pope, but it is likely that he will need some time off while he recovers from his surgery. In the meantime, Catholics around the world can take comfort knowing that their spiritual leader is receiving excellent care at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and wishing him a speedy recovery.
