“The Pope has ailments” –

VATICAN CITY.— Sergio Alferi, the doctor who has operated on Pope Francis’ abdomen twice, does not notice “any worrying situation” in the Pontiff’s health, as detailed in an interview given to the Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera” and that collects “ACI Prensa”.

In his opinion, “the Holy Father adapts well to his age and his occasional breathing difficulties in the coldest seasons, also due to the previous lung operation he underwent many years ago.”

It has been these difficulties that in recent weeks have prevented him from reading aloud most of his speeches and homilies, although yesterday at the general audience he did not show those signs of respiratory weakness.

“I don’t see him every day but I can assure you that he doesn’t have any particular illness,” added Alfieri, who is scientific-technical director of the Isola Tiberina-Gemelli Isola hospital, where the Pope recently underwent medical tests.

Asked about the difficulties shown by Francis in recent weeks, Dr. Alferi affirms that “the Holy Father has the head of a sixty-year-old and manages to stand in front of us while continuing to govern the Vatican State without problem, in the first person.”

“However, as is normal, he has the ailments of an 87-year-old man who generally leads a quieter life and perhaps stays at home in front of the television. He certainly can’t afford it. And in fact he never misses a commitment or almost anything,” he added.

In recent years, the Pope has undergone surgery several times.

In July 2021, he underwent surgery for a diverticular stenosis in an operation that required removing part of the colon.

The following year, in April 2022, he had to undergo surgery for a torn ligament in his right knee.

The following month, he had to cancel planned trips to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In June 2023, he underwent another operation on his abdomen at the Gemelli Hospital due to the risk of intestinal obstruction.

In recent months, the Jesuit Pope has been suffering from some respiratory problems, which led him to cancel a trip to Dubai scheduled for last December.

Since January, on a recurring basis, the Pontiff has given the reading of most of his homilies and speeches, claiming that he was not overcoming “a little bronchitis” or “a slight cold,” depending on the occasion.

According to EFE, Francisco entered yesterday walking aided by a cane into the Paul VI classroom where the traditional general audience was held and read without problems the catechesis he prepared.

Before beginning, he apologized to the faithful for changing St. Peter’s Square to the Paul VI classroom due to the rain.

“Today the hearing scheduled in the plaza had to be moved here. They will be a little tight but at least they won’t get wet. Thank you for your patience,” he said.

In the audience, Francis spoke of the virtues of patience, reiterated his exhortations for peace and for ongoing conflicts to stop.— ACI Prensa/EFE/AP