Pope Francis (86) has to undergo emergency surgery. The Vatican announced that the Pope will undergo abdominal surgery this afternoon at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, reports "Reuters".

They added that his medical team had decided in recent days that surgery was necessary and that he was expected to remain in hospital for several days to recover.

The Vatican said the surgery on the abdominal wall will be performed under general anesthesia.

Pope Francis will be taken to hospital after Sunday's audience at the Vatican, and during the event he did not mention the planned surgery. On Tuesday, he spent 40 minutes for an examination at the Gemeli hospital.

The pope, who marked the 10th anniversary of his pontificate in March, often uses a wheelchair or cane to walk because of knee pain.

In July 2021, part of his colon was removed during surgery due to diverticulitis.

The pope said last year that he did not want to have knee surgery because general anesthesia for colon surgery caused unpleasant side effects.