After unexpectedly announcing Sunday morning that Pope Francis would undergo a surgical procedure later in the day, the Vatican announced Sunday evening that the 84-year-old pontiff has responded well to colon surgery, the New York Times reports.
The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, announced Francis was recovering in the Gemelli hospital in Rome for a scheduled surgery to symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon. The announcement came hours after Bruni shocked the world by announcing the Pope would be in the hospital immediately for surgery.
In the past week, Bruni had made a number of announcements relating to changes in Francis’s scheduled events, including the general audiences he holds with the public every Wednesday would be suspended through July, but would restart August 4th.