86-Year-Old Pope Francis Hospitalised For Intestine Surgery

86-Year-Old Pope Francis Hospitalised For Intestine Surgery

Pope Francis is at Gemelli University Hospital, Rome preparing for abdominal surgery, the Vatican press office has reported.

Making it the second time he has be in a hospital for weeks.

“The Holy Father went to the Gemelli University Hospital where in the early afternoon he will undergo a surgical operation of laparotomy and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall,” read a Vatican statement published on Wednesday.

The procedure was agreed in previous days by the medical team assisting the pontiff due to “a lacerated incisional hernia which is causing recurrent, painful and worsening sub-occlusive syndromes”, the Vatican said.

The pope is expected to remain in the hospital for “several days” to allow full recovery.

In March ending, a storm of television news crews and reporters gathered in front of the Gemelli where the pope was recuperating after a bout of bronchitis. He was discharged after three days.

In July 2021, he spent nearly two weeks at the same hospital for delicate intestinal surgery.

Recently, Pope Francis has focused on pleading for peace amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago. He has offered himself as a broker between the two warring sides, saying he is willing to visit Kyiv and Moscow.

“I am willing to do everything that has to be done. There is a mission in course now, but it is not yet public. When it is public, I will reveal it,” the pope told reporters in April after visiting Hungary.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi wrapped up a two-day mission to Ukraine on Tuesday at the behest of the pope.

The Vatican peace envoy met and spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“The results of these talks … will be brought to the Holy Father’s attention and will undoubtedly be useful in evaluating the steps to be continued to take both at the humanitarian level and in the search for paths to a just and lasting peace,” the Vatican said.