Pope Francis recovering well after surgery, skips public events.

Pope Francis will skip Sunday's public blessing to allow himself to better heal after abdominal surgery earlier this week, according to his surgeon. While the Vatican said earlier in the week that Francis had occasionally been sitting in a chair to read newspapers, the weekly noon appointment customarily involves the pope speaking to the public for about 15 minutes and giving his blessing. Advice by his doctors and the pope’s trusted Vatican nurse to forgo the Sunday appearance is aimed at achieving “the least strain on the abdominal wall in order to allow the implanted mesh and the muscle fascia repaired to heal optimally."