Pope Francis goes to hospital for check-up - Italian media

The reports said he had gone to a department of the hospital specialised in treating elderly patients and arrived at 1040 local time (0840 GMT). Francis spent five days in hospital at the end of March with a lung infection and last month skipped audiences on one day due to a fever. Francis, who marked the 10th anniversary of his pontificate in March, has suffered a number of ailments in recent years and often uses a wheelchair or a cane to walk because of persistent knee pain.

Pope Francis has gone to Rome's Gemelli hospital for a check-up, news agency Ansa and several other Italian media outlets reported on Tuesday, quoting what they said were sources with knowledge of the matter.

There was no immediate word from the Vatican on the condition of the pope, who is 86. The reports said he had gone to a department of the hospital specialised in treating elderly patients and arrived at 1040 local time (0840 GMT).

Francis spent five days in hospital at the end of March with a lung infection and last month skipped audiences on one day due to a fever.

Francis, who marked the 10th anniversary of his pontificate in March, has suffered a number of ailments in recent years and often uses a wheelchair or a cane to walk because of persistent knee pain. In July 2021 he had part of his colon removed in an operation aimed at addressing a painful bowel condition called diverticulitis. He said earlier this year that the condition had returned.

The pontiff is also missing part of one lung, which was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina. Despite his health issues, Francis maintains a busy schedule. The Vatican announced plans on Saturday for him to

visit Mongolia on Aug.31-Sept.4, one of the more remote places he has travelled to.

Before that he is due to visit Portugal from Aug. 2-6 to attend the World Youth Day in Lisbon and visit the Shrine of Fatima.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)