Pope Francis Hospitalized, To Undergo Surgery

Kate Anderson on June 7, 2023

Pope Francis has been hospitalized and will undergo abdominal surgery Wednesday afternoon, during which he will be put under general anesthesia, according to Vatican News.

The Pope had abdominal surgery in 2021 for symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon which caused some discomfort for the pontiff before being released, according to Vatican News. The Vatican made the announcement Wednesday that Francis would be admitted to Gemelli Hospital to have a “laparotomy and abdominal wall surgery.”


A Vatican spokesperson released a statement saying the surgery had been decided upon due to the pope experiencing “painful … syndromes,” according to Vatican News.

“The surgery, decided upon over the past few days by the medical team assisting the Holy Father, became necessary due to an incisional laparocele (hernia) that is causing recurrent, painful and worsening sub-occlusive syndromes,” the statement from the Holy See Press Office read.

ROME, ITALY - DECEMBER 08: Pope Francis prays in front of the statue of the Immaculate Conceptionon at Spanish Steps December 8, 2013 in Rome, Italy. Following a tradition laid out by his predecessors, Pope Francis celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception by travelling to Spanish Steps where he venerated the statue named for the Marian Feast. The statue of the Immaculate Conception was consecrated on December 8, 1857 several years after the dogma which states that Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin was adopted by the Church. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

Pope Francis prays in front of the statue of the Immaculate Conception at Spanish Steps December 8, 2013, in Rome, Italy.  (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

The announcement noted that Francis will be in the hospital for several days following the procedure so doctors can monitor his health, according to Vatican News. The pope was admitted to the hospital on June 2 for a fever before being sent home a few hours later, and then was reported to have been taken back to the hospital Tuesday for a consultation and check-up.

Francis was also taken to the hospital in an ambulance in March for bronchitis after suffering “breathing issues” for several days.

The Vatican did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated accordingly.

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