Pope recovery going well but will skip Sunday blessing

Pope Francis's recovery from surgery is going well but doctors advised him not to deliver his Sunday blessing from a hospital balcony so as not to put strain on his abdominal walls, doctors said on Saturday.

Briefing reporters at the Gemelli hospital, chief surgeon Sergio Alfieri also said the 86-year-old pope had agreed to doctors' suggestions that he remain there for at least all of next week.