Pope Francis admitted to Rome hospital for scheduled colon surgery

Rome, July 4, 2021

Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, was admitted to a hospital in Rome today for a scheduled surgery for symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon, Vatican said.

Francis, 84, was taken to A. Gemelli Policlinic in the afternoon, a few hours after he had recited the Angelus as usual with the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square this morning.

Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office said in a statement that Francis was admitted to the hospital "where he will undergo a scheduled surgery for a symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon."

The surgery will be performed by Prof. Sergio Alfieri, heads the Dirgestive Surgery unit in the hospital's Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences.

Another medical bulletin would be issued at the end of the surgery, the statement added.

This is the first time that Francis is known to have been admitted to a hospital since he was elected to the papacy in 2013.

Diverticular disease is a condition that involves bulges in the large intestine's wall, which can lead to the colon narrowing, and cause bloating, recurrent abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits.

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