While in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis has expressed his closeness to children with cancer or going in for brain surgery, as well as to all who suffer.

Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, shared this in an update he communicated in today’s July 8 statement where he said His Holiness “spent a quiet day, eating and moving unassisted.”

Yesterday afternoon, Bruni told journalists, “he wished to express his paternal closeness to the young patients in the nearby pediatric oncology and children’s neurosurgery wards, sending them his affectionate greetings.”

While stating “In the evening, he temporarily ran a temperature,” he continued, noting: “This morning he underwent routine and microbiological examinations, and a chest and abdomen scan, which proved negative.”

The Vatican spokesman said the Pope continues with his planned treatment and eating by mouth.

“At this particular moment,” he concluded, “he looks toward all those who suffer, expressing his closeness to the sick, especially those most in need of care.”

Yesterday’s statement said the Pope was continuing with his good and satisfactory progress and acknowledged that the final histological examination “confirmed a severe diverticular stenosis with signs of sclerosing diverticulitis.”

Here is the Vatican-provided English statement given by Matteo Bruni in today’s noon bulletin, providing the most recent update on the Pope:

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Statement by the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni,
July 8th

His Holiness Pope Francis spent a quiet day, eating and moving unassisted.

In the afternoon, he wished to express his paternal closeness to the young patients in the nearby paediatric oncology and children’s neurosurgery wards, sending them his affectionate greetings.

In the evening he temporarily ran a temperature.

This morning he underwent routine and microbiological examinations, and a chest and abdomen scan, which proved negative.

The Holy Father is continuing with his planned treatment and eating by mouth.

At this particular moment, he looks toward all those who suffer, expressing his closeness to the sick, especially those most in need of care.

[Vatican-provided official statement]