Following doctors’ advice, Pope Francis will not attend his usual public blessing this Sunday, as he continues to recover from the abdominal surgery he underwent earlier this week.
“I sincerely appreciate the prayers and numerous expressions of closeness and affection received in the past few days,” the pope tweeted Friday. “I am praying for everyone, especially those who suffer. I ask you to keep me in your prayers.”
The 86-year-old pontiff is reportedly recovering in an “absolutely normal” manner, according to operating surgeon Sergio Alfieri. The Vatican said Friday he was sitting up and working from the hospital.
Alfieri shared the news during a briefing at Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, where the pope remains for the time being, reports NBC News.
The operation on Wednesday involved the removal of painful scarring caused by prior abdominal surgeries, as well as the repair of an abdominal wall hernia.
While Pope Francis’ recovery has been medically uneventful, Alfieri believes any additional physical exertion, such as delivering his typical Sunday blessing, could pose a risk to his health.
“In the next few days, if he’s not careful about healing, the netting could tear and he’ll be back in the operating room,” the surgeon said, referring to the prosthetic support netting placed during the procedure.
“If he has a careful recovery, he’ll be back better” than before, Alfieri added. “It’s prudence that we suggested and that he wisely accepted.”
The pope will instead privately recite the traditional Sunday noon prayer in his hospital room and encourages the faithful join him, said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.
No announcement has been made yet regarding the pope’s potential release date from the hospital.