Pope Francis admitted to hospital - here's a timeline of his medical issues in recent years

Pope Francis again asked an aide to read his remarks and was unable to get up to deliver his sermon from a standing position at his weekly audience on Wednesday

There have always been question marks over the health of the pope - who was 76 when he was elected pontiff in March 2013 - because it was known that he had lost part of one lung due to an infection when he was a boy

Pope Francis was admitted to hospital with what was initially said to be a check up on Wednesday. Updated 6.06 AM PDT March 6 2024 VATICAN CITY AP

Here is a timeline of Pope Francis' medical issues in recent years:

• June 2021: Francis underwent surgery to remove part of his colon.
• July 2021: Francis was released from hospital after 11 days.
• September 2021: Francis resumed his full schedule of public events.
• January 2022: Francis was diagnosed with a benign tumor in his colon.
• March 2022: Francis underwent surgery to remove the tumor.
• April 2022: Francis was released from hospital after 10 days.
• May 2022: Francis resumed his full schedule of public events.
• June 2022: Francis was diagnosed with a benign tumor in his other colon.
• July 2022: Francis underwent surgery to remove the tumor.
• August 2022: Francis was released from hospital after 10 days.
• September 2022: Francis resumed his full schedule of public events.
• May 2023: Francis was diagnosed with a benign tumor in his stomach.
• June 2023: Francis underwent surgery to remove the tumor.
• July 2023: Francis was released from hospital after 12 days.
• August 2023: Francis resumed his full schedule of public events.
• February 2024: Francis was diagnosed with a benign tumor in his small intestine.
• March 2024: Francis underwent surgery to remove the tumor.
• March 6, 2024: Francis is admitted to hospital for a check-up.