Pope Francis is in Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital, where the 86-year-old pontiff is undergoing scheduled examinations. This was announced on March 29 by the head of the press service of the Holy See of the Vatican, Matteo Bruni.
“Since the afternoon of today, the Pope has been at the Gemelli Hospital for some previously scheduled checks,” Bruni told reporters.
Prior to this, the pontiff spent 10 days in the Gemelli hospital in July 2021, The Independent newspaper pointed out. Then he underwent an operation to narrow the intestines. After it, he quickly recovered and was soon able to eat ordinary food, but after about six months it became known that the previous symptoms of malaise returned to him again.
In August 2021, it became known that Francis could, following the example of his predecessor Benedict XVI, abdicate the apostolic throne. As noted, the reason for the possible departure is the health of the pontiff after he underwent intestinal surgery in July.
In May 2022, it was reported that Pope Francis was forced to use a wheelchair in public for the first time due to problems with his right knee. Pope Francis has been suffering for many years due to arthrosis, which prevents him from fully participating in church services and forces him to travel only short distances on foot.