Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital for an operation on his abdomen on Wednesday, the latest in a number of health problems for the 86-year-old pontiff.

Pope Francis is going to the hospital for abdominal surgery Wednesday to treat an intestinal blockage, two years after he had a portion of his colon removed because of an inflammation and narrowing of the large intestine.

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 is going the hospital for surgery on his intestine, two years after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed because of an inflammation and narrowing of the large intestine.

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.

ROME (AP) - Pope Francis went to the hospital on Wednesday for surgery on his intestine, two years after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed because of an inflammation and narrowing of the large intestine. The Vatican said Francis, 86, would be put under general anesthesia and would be hospitalized for several days.

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.