Pope Francis undergoes colon operation, confirms Vatican
Pontiff admitted to Rome's Gemelli University Hospital "for a scheduled surgery for symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon," informs Vatican statement.
Pope Francis, 84, underwent a surgery Sunday for an inflamed large colon, a Vatican statement said.
The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Gemelli University Hospital "for a scheduled surgery for symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon," it read.
The condition causes potentially painful inflammation of the diverticulum, a pocket that can form on the colon walls and which tend to multiply with age.
A potential complication is an abnormal narrowing of the colon.
Earlier Sunday, the pope gave the weekly Angelus prayer at St Peter's Square.
There, he announced that he would visit Slovakia in September after a brief stop in Hungary to celebrate a mass in Budapest.
In the afternoon, the pontiff arrived at the clinic accompanied by his driver and one close aide, and Italian media said he was in the operating room a few hours later.
Following the operation, a statement from the Vatican said he has reacted well to the intervention.
The pontiff was expected to spend the night in hospital, according to medical sources quoted by Italian news agencies.
In recent years, the pope has had to cancel some public appearances and sometimes has difficultly walking.
Born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis lost part of his right lung at the age of 21. He also suffers from a hip problem and sciatica.
Francis' visit to Slovakia will include the cities of Bratislava, Presov, Kosice and Sastin, the Vatican said in a statement.
Although more detailed plans for the trip will be announced later, there was no indication the pope intended to meet Hungary's political leaders during his stop in Budapest.
– AFP
related news
-
Gaza conflict shows limits of Argentina and Brazil’s influence in Middle East
-
Moving Embassy to Jerusalem is 'important step,’ says Israeli vice-ambassador
-
Stories that caught our eye: April 19 to 26
-
Top officials to meet People's Bank of China chief amid swap talks
-
60-year-old Miss Universe hopeful challenges age-old beauty norms
-
Argentina, 17 other nations to call on Hamas to release Israeli hostages
-
Mercosur deal is ‘absolute priority’ for the EU, says chief negotiator
-
'Illegal': Iran slams Argentina bid to arrest minister over AMIA attack
-
Argentina seeks arrest of Iranian minister over 1994 AMIA bombing
-
Diana Mondino heads to China, Europe on investment quest