Rome, Jun 12 (EFE). – Pope Francis has been recovering as expected and has started his work related activities from the Gemelli Hospital bed in Rome, almost a week after his successful abdominal hernia surgery, the Vatican said on Monday.
“The medical staff informed us that the post-operative recovery of the Holy Father continues to be regular, observing medical prescriptions,” Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said in a statement.
The Vatican said the 86-year-old Pope was “continuing a normal diet” in the hospital where he was admitted on Jun.7 for surgery to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall.
On Monday morning, “he received the Holy Eucharist and subsequently devoted himself to work activities,” the short statement read.
The Vatican said Pope Francis had a good Sunday and was able to rest, walk around and to offer his Angelus prayers at the chapel of the private apartment on the tenth floor of the hospital.
The Pope on Saturday responded to a letter from the Child Neuropsychiatry and Pediatric Neurological wards health personnel at the Gemelli hospital.
“I thank you from the heart (…) you are images of the Church at a field hospital,” he said in response to the letter.
Considering the postoperative recovery time for the patient, doctors have advised rest for some days for the Pope and urged him to offer his prayers in private from the hospital.
Sergio Alfieri, the doctor who performed the surgery on Jun.7 said on Saturday the pope was off all intravenous treatments and given a semi-liquid diet.
Pope Francis had no fever and was hemo-dynamically stable, while his blood tests and postoperative chest X-ray were also good, Alfieri said, adding that he was doing fine from a cardiorespiratory point of view.
Alfieri said Pop would have to remain hospitalized for the entire week – “a decision made out of caution to facilitate recovery.” EFE
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