Pope Francis, who recently underwent hernia surgery, led the Angelus prayers in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, where thousands of pilgrims had gathered.
The operation, lasting three hours and conducted under general anesthesia on June 7, aimed to alleviate the discomfort caused by a hernia that had formed near a previous surgical scar.
During the prayers, Pope Francis expressed his profound sadness and sorrow regarding the tragic incident of a trawler sinking off the coast of Greece. The sinking claimed the lives of at least 78 migrants, while hundreds more are still missing.
Despite the calm appearance of the sea, the Pope emphasized the urgency of taking preventive measures to avoid such tragedies. He renewed his prayers for those who lost their lives and urged continuous efforts to ensure their prevention in the future.
Furthermore, Pope Francis strongly condemned the brutal attack that occurred on Friday night at a school in Uganda. Suspected jihadists perpetrated the attack, brutally killing 41 individuals, mostly students, through hacking, shooting, and burning. Several individuals remain missing as well.
Although Pope Francis appeared to be in good health and led the weekly prayers, he has made the decision to reduce his commitments in the upcoming week. Notably, he canceled his scheduled weekly audience on Wednesday, likely to allow himself sufficient time for recovery after the recent surgery.
