President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a get-well message to the Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis as he heads in for a scheduled surgery of the colon.
The President called for prayers from Nigerians and the global community as the Pontiff goes in for this routine operation.
“He wishes him a quick recovery,” his spokesperson, Garba Shehu said in a statement on Sunday.
According to the Vatican, Pope Francis has undergone successful surgery to treat a colon problem at a hospital in Rome.
The 84-year-old “responded well” to the treatment, which was performed under general anaesthetic, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
It is the first time Pope Francis has been admitted to hospital since his election in 2013.
Earlier on Sunday, the Argentine pontiff addressed thousands of visitors in St Peter’s Square.
In an earlier statement, the Vatican said Pope Francis was being treated at the Gemelli University Hospital for “symptomatic diverticular stenosis” of the colon.
Diverticular disease is a condition that involves bulges in the wall of the large intestine. This can lead to a narrowing, of the colon.
Symptoms include bloating, recurrent abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits.
The Vatican did not provide further details about the surgery or how long the Pope would remain in hospital.
