Saturday, November 4, 2023

Pope Francis undergoes abdominal surgery and is hospitalised

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Pope Francis, aged 86, is undergoing abdominal surgery at a hospital in Rome for a lacerated incisional hernia causing recurrent and painful sub-occlusive syndromes. The Vatican press office released a statement on Wednesday confirming the operation, which includes laparotomy and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall. The pope is expected to remain in the hospital for several days to recover fully. This is the second time in recent months that Francis has been admitted to the same hospital. In July 2021, he underwent delicate intestinal surgery and spent nearly two weeks in the hospital.

Francis, who hails from Argentina, became the first pope from the Global South in 2013 after his predecessor Benedict XVI resigned. He has been instrumental in opening up the Catholic Church and bringing it closer to the people. In recent years, he has focused on advocating for peace amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He has offered himself as a mediator between the two warring sides and expressed his willingness to visit Kyiv and Moscow. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi recently concluded a two-day mission to Ukraine at the pope’s request, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Vatican said that the results of these talks would be useful in evaluating steps towards a just and lasting peace.

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