Pope In Hospital For Surgery On Painful Hernia

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

Francis arrived mid-morning at the Gemelli hospital in Rome, where he will 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 issued.

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

“In the early afternoon he will undergo a laparotomy and abdominal wall surgery… under general anaesthesia,” Bruni further said.

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 added that it would not release any further updates until after the operation.

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