Pope Francis, 86, admitted to hospital in Rome in fresh health scare after recent illness

POPE Francis has been admitted to hospital in Rome today in a fresh health scare – just months after suffering from a lung infection. The 86-year-old was reportedly taken to Gemelli hospital for a check-up. GettyPope Francis has been taken to hospital for a check-up[/caption] According to ANSA news agency, the pope arrived at the hospital’s geriatric unit at 10.40am local time. There was no immediate word from the Vatican. The pope spent five days in hospital earlier this year with a lung infection and also skipped audiences last month due to a fever. Francis, who marked 10 years as head of the Catholic Church this year, has suffered a number of illnesses in recent years. In July 2021 he had part of his colon removed in an operation to help a painful bowel condition called diverticulitis. The pontiff also suffers from chronic knee pain and uses a wheelchair. He had to cancel activities several times last year due to the pain in his knee and acknowledged he needed to slow down. Earlier this year, Francis bid farewell to his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died aged 95. He was seen arriving in a wheelchair and stood using a stick as he paid tribute to the “wisdom, tenderness and devotion that he bestowed upon us over the years”. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY… The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.