Pope Francis Recovering Well From Surgery

“Admitted in the afternoon to the A. Gemelli Hospital, the Holy Father underwent surgery in the evening for a diverticular stenosis of the colon,” Bruni said.

Diverticulitis is a condition that either infects or inflames the colon, the Times reported, noting that Pope Francis had the left side of his colon removed during a procedure called a left-hemicolectomy.

The pope’s surgery came as a surprise since he had not made any previous announcements about the scheduled appointment, the publication reported, and his operation is the first known serious health issue that he experienced.

“It is a very delicate and certainly complex procedure,” Dr. Giovanni Battista Grassi, the scientific director of oncological and emergency surgery at Rome’s Casilino Hospital, told the Times.

“Once he has gotten through the postoperative stay, once he has undergone an adequate rehabilitation, he can return to living his life in a normal way, without any problems,” Grassi said.