Pope Francis will undergo abdominal surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday afternoon, the Vatican said in a statement, adding that the 86-year-old pontiff would be hospitalized for several days.
The surgery is the latest in a string of health issues for the pope, who has presided over the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics for the past ten years.
He arrived at Rome’s largest hospital, a short drive from the Vatican, around 1130 a.m. local time (0930 GMT).
Francis made no mention of the planned operation during his weekly audience at the Vatican on Wednesday morning, during which he appeared to be in good spirits.
According to the Vatican statement, the operation was required to repair a laparocele, a hernia that can form over a scar from a previous surgery. Obesity or weakness of the abdominal wall muscles can also contribute to it.
The pope’s medical team recently decided that surgery, which will be performed under general anaesthesia, was necessary because the condition was causing painful intestinal occlusions.
On Tuesday, Francis spent about 40 minutes at the same Roman hospital for a pre-operation procedure.
PLANS FOR TRAVEL ARE IN PLACE
Francis was treated for a lung infection at the same hospital for five days at the end of March and missed an audience last month due to a fever. Popes have a special 10th-floor suite at the hospital.
In July 2021, he underwent surgery to remove a portion of his colon in order to treat diverticulitis, a painful bowel condition. He stated that the condition had returned earlier this year.
Because of persistent knee pain, the Pope frequently walks with the assistance of a wheelchair or a cane. Last year, he refused to have knee surgery because the general anaesthesia used for his colon surgery had caused him to experience unpleasant side effects.
Despite his health issues, Francis keeps a full schedule. On Saturday, the Vatican announced plans for him to visit Mongolia, one of the most isolated regions he has visited, from August 31 to September 4.
Prior to that, he will travel to Portugal from August 2-6 to attend World Youth Day in Lisbon and visit the Shrine of Fatima. The Vatican released an official schedule for the trip on Tuesday, indicating that it was confirmed.
