ROME (AP) 鈥� Pope Francis temporarily had a fever three days after intestinal surgery, but routine tests and scans proved negative, the Vatican said Thursday.
The Vatican鈥檚 daily update said Francis was continuing to eat and move around unassisted, and had even sent his greetings to young cancer patients at Rome鈥檚 Gemelli Polyclinic hospital.
But spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis did have a 鈥渇ever episode" temporarily Wednesday evening.
鈥淭his morning he underwent routine and microbiological examinations, and a chest and abdomen scan, which proved negative,鈥� the statement said.
Francis, 84, had half of his colon removed Sunday because of what the Vatican says was a 鈥渟evere鈥� narrowing of the large intestine. He is expected to stay at Gemelli, which has a special suite reserved for popes, through the week assuming there are no complications.
Doctors have said a fever could indicate evidence of an infection or other post-operative complications, though the Vatican statement stressed that the episode was temporary and that Francis' treatment was progressing as planned.
The original Italian version of the Vatican statement referred to a 鈥渇ever episode,鈥� while the English translation said Francis 鈥渢emporary ran a high temperature.鈥� The Vatican spokesman said the Italian is the accurate, official version and a subsequent version of the English translation removed the reference to Francis' temperature being 鈥渉igh."
The statement said Francis鈥� recovery is continuing as planned and that 鈥渁t this particular moment, he looks toward all those who suffer, expressing his closeness to the sick, especially those most in need of care."
Francis has enjoyed relatively robust health, though he lost the upper part of one lung in his youth because of an infection. He also suffers from sciatica, or nerve pain, that makes him walk with a pronounced limp.
Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press
