Spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the 84-year-old pope was eating regularly and that he was no longer receiving medication intravenously.

The final results of a biopsy on the removed part of the colon confirmed that the pontiff had been suffering from "severe diverticular stenosis with signs of sclerosing diverticulitis."

Francis had a temporary fever last evening, July 7 (Rome time) but a CT scan of his chest and abdomen carried out in the morning came back negative.

Every Catholic in Aotearoa New Zealand will be mentioning Pope Francis in their prayers and wishing him a quick recovery from surgery, says Cardinal John Dew, President of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference.

"It is heartening to know that the Holy Father coped well with the surgery and is making a good recovery," says Cardinal Dew, who is the Archbishop of Wellington.

"It says much about the Holy Father's strength and devotion that he gave his weekly public Angelus address at the Vatican as usual on Sunday before leaving for the hospital.

"All the bishops, priests and indeed all Catholics in Aotearoa New Zealand are mentioning Pope Francis in their daily prayers this week and praying for his quick and full recovery from the operation."

Bruni said the pope is touched by the many messages of good wishes and prayers and he expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer.

Sources

• Catholic Communications
• Vatican Bulletin

The operation — to address a stenosis, or potential narrowing, of his large intestine — was performed at Gemelli hospital by Sergio Alfieri, a specialist in the colon, rectum and stomach.

The operation lasted about three hours, it included a hemicolectomy.

Barring complications, Francis is expected to be in hospital for a week.

Sources

• Washington Post
• Vatican Bulletin

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 93, lost his balance and fell in St Peter's Basilica on Sunday while the Pope was greeting prelates after the Mass.

The injury was reported as requiring surgery.

A few hours after the incident, Pope Francis visited the French cardinal in Rome's Gemelli Hospital and bestowed his blessing.

In 2009, Cardinal Etchegaray suffered a broken hip and leg when a mentally unstable woman jumped a barrier and tried to tackle Pope Benedict XVI before Christmas Eve Mass.

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