Pope Francis will undergo an urgent operation on Wednesday afternoon to repair a hernia in his abdominal area and will be hospitalised for “several days”, the Holy See has announced.

The operation will be performed under general anaesthetic in a procedure which involves an incision in the abdominal cavity.

Reports from a 2021 surgery for a bowel condition said he did not tolerate general anaesthetic well.

Francis’ medical team decided in the past few days that the pontiff needed the operation.

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He had already arrived at the hospital by midday (1000 GMT).

The Vatican statement said 86-year-old Pope Francis had been experiencing recurring pain.

The Pope spent several hours at Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday for what the Vatican said was a check-up.

His procedure, known as laparocele in medical terminology, will be performed there.

In 2021, the pontiff, who is from Argentina, was operated on under general anaesthetic for a bowel condition called diverticulitis.

Part of his colon was removed and he spent 10 days in hospital.

The Star