Catholics in NZ wish Pope well after surgery

Pope Francis was hospitalized July 4 for previously scheduled colon surgery, the Vatican press office said. He is pictured at the Vatican June 9, 2021. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Every Catholic in Aotearoa New Zealand will be mentioning Pope Francis in their prayers and wishing him a quick recovery from surgery, says Cardinal John Dew, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

Pope Francis had a three-hour scheduled operation on Sunday in Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome for an issue with his colon.

“It is heartening to know that the Holy Father coped well with the surgery and is making a good recovery,” says Cardinal Dew, who is the Archbishop of Wellington.

“It says much about the Holy Father’s strength and devotion that he gave his weekly public Angelus address at the Vatican as usual on Sunday before leaving for the hospital.

“All the bishops, priests and indeed all Catholics in Aotearoa New Zealand are mentioning Pope Francis in their daily prayers this week and praying for his quick and full recovery from the operation.”

Pope Francis is expected to stay in Gemelli Hospital until at least next weekend.

The morning after undergoing colon surgery, Pope Francis was in “good general condition, alert and breathing spontaneously”, the Vatican press office said on July 5.

“The surgery for diverticular stenosis performed the evening of July 4 involved a left hemicolectomy and lasted about 3 hours,” the statement said. “A stay of about seven days is expected, barring complications.”

A left hemicolectomy is the removal of the descending part of the colon and can be recommended to treat diverticulitis, when bulging pouches in the lining of the intestine or colon become inflamed or infected.

The 84-year-old Pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital in the early afternoon July 4 after leading the midday recitation of the Angelus with visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square.

As has been his custom, Pope Francis had already suspended his weekly general audience and other meetings for the month of July, except for the Sunday recitation of the Angelus.

It is possible that Pope Francis’ midday Angelus appointment on July 11 could take place at the Gemelli hospital, as it did on several occasions when St John Paul II was hospitalised there. The hospital maintains a suite of rooms for the popes’ use when necessary.

Announcing Pope Francis’ hospitalisation in the mid-afternoon July 4, the Vatican press office had said he was to undergo “a scheduled surgical intervention for a symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon.”

Dr Sergio Alfieri, a staff surgeon at the Gemelli who specializes in surgery of the digestive tract and colon, led the surgery, assisted by a team of surgeons. The operation was performed under a general anaesthetic.

Stenosis is a narrowing of a passage in the human body. The Vatican’s description of the Pope’s condition indicated a partial blockage of the lower intestine. It provided no information about the cause or suspected cause of the blockage nor of the symptoms the Pope had been experiencing.

  • Catholic News Service copy was used in this article.
  • CNS Photo.
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