10 June 2023 , 10:40
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The Vatican has issued a statement after Pope Francis has undergone gruelling three-hour surgery.
The Pope is currently in hospital in Rome following the operation on Wednesday to remove a hernia which had formed in his abdomen wall.
The 86-year-old also had scar tissue removed following intestinal surgery in previous years.
A brief statement from the Vatican on Saturday said it would be providing more details on his progress later in the day, as thousands of Catholics flock to St Peter's Square in the hopes of seeing a video message from him.
It is not currently clear whether the message would be pre-recorded or given from the hospital.
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Crowds pictured at St Peter's Square in Vatican City on Friday (AP)The late-afternoon gathering will promote brotherhood, the topic of a letter written by the Pope in 2020 amidst the beginning of the pandemic.
In that document, the Pope explained his vision of a post-Covid world built on solidarity, fraternity and care for the environment.
Vatican reports suggest Francis had been recovering by reading newspapers while sitting in an armchair, and spending time working and in prayer.
No date has yet been announced for his release from the hospital.
Shortly after the three-hour operation, his surgeon told reporters that the pontiff had experienced no complications during the surgery or from the general anesthesia.
During the operation, the surgical team removed adhesions, a kind of internal scarring not infrequent after previous surgery.
Two years earlier, Francis had part of his colon removed following a narrowing of a section of the bowel.
During Wednesday's operation, the doctors also repaired a hernia that had formed over a previous scar, placing a prosthetic mesh that serves as a support.