Because of an impending intestinal obstruction, Pope Francis is currently undergoing an urgent operation. The 86-year-old will have to stay in the hospital for several days, the Vatican said.
Pope Francis undergoes another operation under general anesthesia. The Vatican announced that the head of the Catholic Church would undergo a so-called laparotomy, i.e. the opening of the abdominal cavity. The procedure then resulted in a hospital stay of “several” days. The reason is an impending intestinal obstruction.
That morning the Pope held the weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square. The day before he had already been to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome to be examined. The operation is now planned there.
Further health problems
The Pope has been struggling with health problems for a long time. Before Easter he was ill with pneumonia. In 2021, Francis had part of his colon removed in an operation. At the time, the Vatican spoke of a routine procedure. The Pope himself later said that he owed his life to a nurse who quickly recognized his problems and acted accordingly.
Francis also suffers from knee problems. As a result, he has been dependent on a wheelchair and a walker for more than a year. As a young man, part of his lungs were removed. Health concerns notwithstanding, the Vatican released the Pope’s travel plans for August on Tuesday. Then Francis is to travel to World Youth Day in Portugal and later visit Mongolia.
With information from Jörg Seisselberg, ARD Studio Rome