Pope Francis has gone to Rome's Gemelli hospital for a check-up. Earlier this year the pope, 86, spent five days in hospital with a lung infection and last month had to skip audiences due to a fever.

Pope Francis will undergo surgery on his intestine Wednesday afternoon and is expected to remain hospitalized under general anesthesia for several days, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis appears in good form a day after he went to the hospital for a checkup. Francis presided over his weekly general audience Wednesday.

Watch the latest from ITV News - The Pope will be placed under general anaesthetic for surgery to his intestine and is expected to be hospitalised for several days, the Vatican has announced.

Pope Francis went to Rome's Gemelli hospital for a brief check-up on Tuesday and has returned to the Vatican, the Holy See's press office said in a statement.

Pope Francis appeared at his weekly general audience on Wednesday, a day after he went to the hospital for a checkup. The Vatican provided no details about the medical tests Francis underwent on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.

Pope Francis has returned to the Vatican after undergoing tests in hospital, witnesses and news reports said. The move comes two months after he was taken to hospital with an acute case of bronchitis.