Following his three-hour intestinal surgery on Wednesday, the pope, 86, will not attend the ceremony at the suggestion of his physicians.

As he recovers from intestinal surgery, Pope Francis won’t be leading the blessing on Sunday.

Following his three-hour surgery on Wednesday, in which he was admitted due to “recurring” symptoms brought on by an abdominal hernia, the pope, 86, is skipping the ceremony as per his doctors’ advice, reporters were informed on Saturday.

The pope’s operating surgeon, Sergio Alfieri, reported that the patient is recovering “absolutely well” and that precautions are being taken to put “the least strain on the abdominal wall in order to allow the implanted mesh and the muscle fascia repaired to heal optimally.”

The pope underwent surgery while under general anesthesia, having a hernia corrected with the insertion of prosthetic support netting. Additionally, painful scarring from earlier abdominal surgery was eliminated.

On June 7, 2023, Pope Francis will preside over the weekly general audience in Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

Following intestinal surgery, Pope Francis is currently healing.

There have only been three days. We urged the Holy Father to exercise caution and refrain from exerting himself by standing up,” Dr. Alfieri told the press.

“If he’s not careful about recovering over the following few days, the netting could rupture, sending him back to the operating room. He’ll return better if he makes a careful recovery, the doctor said.

Dr. Alfieri added that the pope is currently on a semiliquid diet and has no temperature, adding that “all paraments are regular” with him. The religious leader, according to him, will probably stay in the hospital for “at least the whole of next week.”

The Pope will personally lead the Sunday midday prayer from his hospital bed, according to Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni, and will gather “the faithful who want to accompany him, wherever they are.”

On April 20, 2014, Pope Francis gave the Urbi Et Orbi benediction in St. Peter’s Square.
The pope has been urged by doctors not to exert himself while he recovers.

A Vatican cardinal will read the pope’s remarks to the congregation at Sunday’s benediction, according to Bruni in a separate statement.

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Early this week, the Vatican revealed that Pope Francis had intestinal surgery.

The Holy Father left the General Audience and headed to the A. Gemelli University Hospital where, according to a Vatican statement, he will have a laparotomy and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall using prosthesis under general anesthesia in the early afternoon.

The Vatican added, “The stay at the medical facility will last a number of days to permit the usual surgical course and full functional recuperation.

The Vatican stated at the time that the Pope had previously been hospitalized in late March after seeking treatment for bronchitis. According to the Associated Press, the pontiff was hospitalized at the Gemelli Polyclinic and received antibiotics intravenously.