Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis, has been admitted into a Rome hospital over inflammation of the large colon.

A Vatican statement disclosed that the 84-year-old pontiff was admitted to the Gemelli University Hospital “for a scheduled surgery for symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon”.

Symptomatic diverticular disease represents a ‘grey’ clinical condition characterised by recurrent abdominal symptoms such as recurrent abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel habits attributed to diverticula in the absence of macroscopical alterations other than diverticula.

A potential complication is an abnormal narrowing of the colon.

Born on December 17, 1936 in Argentina, Francis lost part of his right lung at the age of 21. He also suffers from a hip problem and sciatica.

AFP