Pope In Hospital For Operation On Painful Hernia

Pope Francis was to undergo Wednesday an operation on a painful abdominal hernia, reviving concerns over the 86-year-old’s increasingly fragile health.

Francis arrived mid-morning at the Gemelli hospital in Rome, where he is expected to stay for several days during a recovery period which will see the cancellation of all papal audiences until June 18.

The 86-year-old, who underwent colon surgery in 2021, is suffering from a hernia that is “causing recurrent, painful and worsening” symptoms, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement.

Francis looked in good spirits as he led his weekly general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, waving to the gathered crowds as he did a round of St Peter’s Square in his popemobile.

He then left for the hospital in his white Fiat 500 car, escorted by police.

Francis is suffering from an incisional hernia, which can form over a scar from previous surgery, the Vatican said.

“In the early afternoon he will undergo a laparotomy and abdominal wall surgery… under general anaesthesia,” Bruni said, referring to a surgical incision into the abdominal cavity.

A prosthesis will be used to reconstruct the abdominal wall, and “the stay at the health facility will last several days,” Bruni said.

The Vatican said it would not release any further updates until after the operation, which was due to begin at 1400 GMT according to Italian media reports.

Francis retains all his powers as pontiff even while unconscious.

Afterwards, “if there are things that need deciding, urgent things, they will be taken to the pope in hospital,” said Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

In the meantime, all the pope’s audiences have been cancelled “as a precautionary measure” until June 18, the Vatican press office told AFP.