The Vatican announced on Wednesday that Pope Francis, 86, is in a hospital in Rome.
The Pope went to the hospital for routine health checks before canceling his Thursday appointments.
“The Holy Father has been at Gemelli (Hospital) since this afternoon for some previously scheduled checks,” wrote Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni in a one-sentence statement.
The pontiff, who is celebrating his tenth year as Pope, had earlier appeared in good spirits at his weekly audience at the Vatican, smiling as he greeted the faithful from his “popemobile.”
The pope, on the other hand, grimaced as he was helped into the vehicle.
According to Italian media, he was taken to the hospital by ambulance after experiencing respiratory and cardiac issues.
A Vatican source said Francis’ appointments for Thursday morning had been canceled and that he could stay in the hospital overnight.
The Argentine pontiff suffers from chronic knee pain that has forced him to rely on a wheelchair in recent months.
The Gemelli was the same hospital where he had a colon operation in July 2021 after suffering from a type of diverticulitis, an inflammation of pockets that form in the intestine lining.
He was hospitalized for ten days. He admitted a year later that he was still feeling the effects of the six hours he spent under anesthesia during the surgery.
Francis stated in a January interview that the diverticulitis had returned.
