Pope's deteriorated health condition cancels his appointments

Pope Francis’s appointments for March 30 have been cancelled following his admission to a Rome hospital, a Vatican source said on March 29, adding that it was “possible” he would stay in overnight, Al Arabiya informs.

“The pope’s agenda has been freed up for the possibility of further tests,” the source told AFP after the 86-year-old pontiff was admitted for what the Vatican’s spokesman earlier described as “previously scheduled checks.”

Pope Francis suffers from diverticulitis, a condition that can infect or inflame the colon, and he had an operation in 2021 to remove part of his colon.

Earlier this year, he said the condition had returned and that it was causing him to put on weight, but that he was not overly concerned. He did not elaborate.

He also has a problem with his knee and alternates between using a cane and a wheelchair in his public appearances.