Hospital Prepares For Pope’s Appendectomy

A 10th floor suite at Rome’s Catholic teaching hospital has been readied for Pope John Paul II, who is checking in Sunday for an appendectomy.

The Vatican did not say exactly when the operation would take place, but sources said it probably won’t be before Tuesday.

The 76-year-old pontiff has been stricken three times since December by what the Vatican described as an intestinal ailment. After he looked particularly weak during a trip to Hungary Sept. 6-7, the Vatican said he was suffering from an inflamed appendix requiring surgery.