Nothing suggested that Pope Francis was going to be admitted to the hospital to undergo an operation on June 7. The day before, he had gone to Rome's Gemelli hospital for check-ups.
But the Pope had not cancelled any of the events on his agenda, such as his General Audience, for that day. For example, this group of Spanish Civil Guards was able to greet him before he left.
SGT. RAFAEL CHACÓN
Spanish Civil Guard, GRS3, Valencia
He was super nice to us. He was very friendly, very approachable and the truth is that he treated us wonderfully. We would have never guessed that he was going to be taken to the hospital.
At the end of the meeting, Pope Francis went directly to the hospital. Hours later, the doctor in charge of the operation spoke with journalists. He described the three-hour operation to remove the hernia that was obstructing the intestine.
DR. SERGIO ALFIERI
Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic
Good evening everybody. So first of all, the Holy Father is well.
FLASH
This afternoon the Holy Father at Policlinico Gemelli underwent scheduled surgery for an incarcerated laparoscopic work at the scars from previous surgeries in past years.
Dr. Alfieri was referring to the operation the Pope had undergone in Argentina in 1980, when he was on the verge of death. At that time, he was 43 years old and the provincial of the Jesuits.
DR. JUAN CARLOS PARODI
Surgeon
He was really very sick, with a severe infection, high temperature and he was dehydrated. I told him that he needed fluids, antibiotics and surgery because the infection was already in the biliary system. The pain was mainly in the right upper quadrant, which is where the gallbladder is. The diagnosis was more or less clear. It was not inconclusive. And the inflammation indicated that the abdominal lining was involved.
This surgery led to inflammation of Pope Francis' abdominal pouches in 2021. He had almost 13 inches of his colon removed in a scheduled 6-hour surgery.
Argentinean journalist and neurologist, Nelson Castro, explains in his book, 'The Health of the Popes', medical details of the lives of the popes from Leo XIII to Francis.
NELSON CASTRO
Author, The Health of the Popes
Diverticula are small pouches that form in the large intestine. When they operated on him, Dr. Alfieri and his team found all those adhesions, which were the result of that operation. And that complicated the Pope's operation, which is why they could not do it by simple surgery, but had to open up the whole abdomen.
His 2023 surgery was a consequence of his 2021 operation, which was related to his 1980 surgery in Argentina. After the colon operation two years ago, more intestinal scarring formed, which resulted in the hernia that caught the intestine and caused the intestinal obstruction.
DR. SERGIO ALFIERI
Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic
We proceeded to clear these adhesions, these internal scars and we unraveled—what we doctors say—the skin that was attached to the adhesions that was causing this intestinal difficulty.
Dr. Alfieri recommended that the Pope stay longer than usual to ensure time to recover.
DR. SERGIO ALFIERI
Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic
Compared to other people his age, he doesn't just come home and sit in front of the television and relax. That is, when he comes home, he is the head of a government and the head of, let's say, millions. He's the head of the Church, of Christianity. In short, he's an 86-year-old person who has important responsibilities and therefore, it's very important that he returns strong.
Another important factor that Dr. Alfieri explained and that must be taken into account when talking about Pope Francis' recovery is the fact that he is overweight.
NELSON CASTRO
Author, The Health of the Popes
The fact that the Pope is overweight makes it necessary to respect this rule very carefully as it complicates abdominal operations.
DR. SERGIO ALFIERI
Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic
You have to take out the abdominal wall and then put pressure on his lungs. And you have to close the abdominal wall on a man who is not exactly slim.
In total, Pope Francis has undergone three major abdominal surgeries. But there is more to the Pope' medical history.
He had his first operation in 1957 when he was a 21 years old seminarian. The Pope himself said that he did not know if he would live or die.
He had a lung condition. Pope Francis said that more than 2 pints of water and three cysts were removed from his lungs.
DR. JUAN CARLOS PARODI
Surgeon
He had vanishing lung syndrome and had a lung lobe removed. But he recovered very well.
On top of these operations, Pope Francis' knee problems must be added and there could be another operation in the futre.
CA
TR: KG
