On July 4, Pope Francis underwent scheduled but previously unannounced surgery at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome for symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon. Stenosis is the narrowing of a bodily passage; the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons offers information on diverticular disease.

The following day, Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, announced that the Pope underwent a left hemicolectomy: the removal of the left side of his colon.

In his July 7 update, Bruni described the Pope’s progress as “regular and satisfactory,” adding, “The final histological [i.e., microscopic] examination has confirmed a severe diverticular stenosis with signs of sclerosing diverticulitis.”