Pope Francis, 86, skips speech and admits feeling effects of surgery

‘My breathing isn’t good’: Ailing Pope Francis, 86, skips speech and admits feeling effects of hospital surgery but tells well-wisher: ‘I’m still alive’

• Asked by a well-wisher how he felt, the 86-year-old pope replied: ‘I’m still alive’
• The 86-year-old had surgery to repair an abdominal hernia earlier this month

Pope Francis was forced to skip reading a planned speech at a conference on Thursday, saying he still had breathing problems following a hernia operation this month.

‘I am still under the effects of anaesthesia, my breathing is not good,’ Francis told a meeting of the Catholic Oriental Church, saying delegates would instead receive a text of the speech.

Asked by a well-wisher how he felt, the 86-year-old pope replied: ‘I’m still alive.’

The pope had surgery on June 7 to repair an abdominal hernia. He spent nine days in hospital recovering before he was discharged, with his surgeon saying he was ‘better than before’.

The pontiff has had a busy schedule since returning to the Vatican last Friday, including meeting the presidents of Cuba and Brazil. He also had eight events on his schedule for Thursday amid his ailing state.

Asked by a well-wisher how he felt, the 86-year-old pope replied: ‘I’m still alive’. He is pictured in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on the day of his surgery earlier this month, June 7 

Pope Francis meets with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Brazil’s First Lady Rosangela da Silva at the Vatican, Wednesday

He also gave reassurances about his health in a video about his upcoming trip to Portugal in early August for World Youth Day and to visit the Shrine of Fatima.

‘The doctor told me I can travel,’ Francis said in a message on the Vatican News website.

‘There are 40 days left, like Lent, before the meeting in Lisbon. I’m ready! I already have everything, I can’t wait to go!’ said Francis, brandishing a grey bag with the kit that will be handed out to pilgrims.

Francis has complained previously about feeling the effects of anaesthesia long after surgical procedures, including after an operation in 2021 to remove 13 inches (33cm) of his large intestine.

He had cited that reaction in part in refusing surgery to repair strained ligaments in his knee.

His surgeon for both the 2021 and 2023 operations, Dr Sergio Alfieri of Rome’s Gemelli hospital, has stressed that there were no adverse reactions to anaesthesia either time, though he acknowledged that “no-one likes” to be put under and operated on.

Francis had part of one lung removed as a young man following a respiratory infection and had a three-day hospital stay this past spring for bronchitis.

Pope Francis and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva shake hands and they pose for a picture beside first lady Rosangela da Silva, the Vatican, Wednesday

Pope Francis speaks with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti ahead of a private audience at The Vatican today

He often speaks in a whisper and can seem out of breath, especially when physically strained.

Part of his rehabilitation after the most recent surgery involved respiratory exercises.

Dr Alfieri has urged Francis to take it easy so that the scar can heal and he can fully regain his strength before upcoming trips in August to Portugal and Mongolia.

Francis has not exactly followed doctors’ orders, holding a normal slate of audiences in recent days including high-profile meetings this week with the Cuban and Brazilian presidents.

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