Pope Francis, 86, to have abdomen surgery

Pope Francis volition person country connected his abdomen connected Wednesday day astatine Rome's Gemelli hospital.

He is expected to enactment successful infirmary for "several days" to retrieve from the hernia operation, the Vatican said.

The hernia is "causing recurrent, achy and worsening" symptoms, added Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni.

The 86-year-old has faced a bid of wellness issues successful caller years, and uses a cane and a wheelchair owed to a persistent genu ailment.

"In the aboriginal day helium volition acquisition a laparotomy and abdominal partition surgery... nether wide anaesthesia," said Mr Bruni.

He added. "The enactment astatine the wellness installation volition past respective days to let the mean post-operative people and afloat functional recovery."

On Tuesday, the Pope was astatine the aforesaid Rome infirmary for a scheduled check-up, months aft helium was hospitalised with bronchitis.

He spent 3 days successful infirmary successful March to dainty a lung infection, successful the aforesaid period that helium marked the 10th day of his pontificate.

In 2021, Pope Francis spent 10 days successful infirmary aft having a portion of his colon removed, successful a bid to code a achy bowel condition.

But portion his predecessor Benedict XVI discontinue successful 2013, the Pope has dismissed the anticipation of leaving bureau too.

"You don't tally the Church with a genu but with a head," helium is said to person told an adjutant past year.

The Pope continues to support a engaged schedule, and is owed to sojourn Portugal and Mongolia from August.