Vatican says pope gradually resuming work after surgery

The Vatican announced Saturday that Pope Francis will gradually resume his duties as he heals from intestinal surgery, Reuters reported.

The pope has been hospitalized since Sunday when he underwent a three-hour surgery to have part of his colon removed due to severe narrowing in his large intestine.

Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni said on Friday that the 84-year-old pope had a calm day and was continuing with his prescribed treatment.

“In the afternoon, he celebrated Holy Mass in the private chapel and in the evening he dined with those who are assisting him during these days,” Bruni said, according to Reuters.

Bruni also announced on Friday that the pope would deliver Sunday prayer from the Italian hospital where he has been recovering, adding that the pontiff was making “normal clinical progress.” It will be the first time that Francis has delivered the prayer away from the Vatican, except for when he has been on trips, Reuters noted.

Francis’s current hospital stay marks the first time he has been hospitalized since becoming pope in 2013.