VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has “reacted well” to a planned intestinal surgery, the Vatican announced on Sunday.
Matteo Bruni, a Holy See spokesman, said the 84-year-old had general anesthesia during the surgery, which was a narrowing of the sigmoid portion of the large intestine.
Francis was seen hours earlier on Sunday in public at St. Peter’s Square, where he told the crowd he will go to Hungary and Slovakia in September. Weeks ago, Francis may have hinted at possible health issues when he requested special prayers for himself.
The Vatican said the pope had been diagnosed with “symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon”. He suffers from sciatica, a painful ondition that involves a nerve affecting the lower back and leg.
