Pope Francis advised to rest and skip public events during recovery from surgery.

Pope Francis will skip Sunday's public blessing to allow himself to heal after abdominal surgery earlier this week, according to his surgeon. The 86-year-old pope's recovery is proceeding normally, but any extra physical exertion could be risky at this point. Francis will recite the traditional Sunday noon prayer privately in his hospital room, and faithful are encouraged to join in the prayer. The Vatican said Francis has graduated from a liquid to a semiliquid diet and had no fever. No date has yet been announced for his release from the hospital.