Pope Francis Undergoes Surgery For 'Colon Diverticulitis', Recovering Fine

Rome, June 5 (TNA) Head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, underwent a surgery a scheduled surgery on Sunday, an official statement said. "This afternoon his Holiness Pope Francis went to the Gemelli hospital -- Rome -- for a scheduled surgical intervention for a symptomatic stenotic diverticulitis" it read.

Surgery was carried out by professor Sergio Alfieri. Diverticulitis is a condition of inflammation of the large intestine which is caused when a person develops small sacs in the walls of the colon.

The sacs or pouches are called diverticuli. It's usually symptomless, but can cause discomfort and, sometimes, bleeding.

Spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the pontiff "responded well" to the surgery, which was done under general aesthesia and which the Vatican had said earlier had been scheduled and not prompted by an emergency.