Pope Francis arrives Mid-Morning at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome for His Recovery Period

Pope Francis was to undergo Wednesday an operation on a painful abdominal hernia, reviving concerns over the 86-year-old’s increasingly fragile health.

Francis arrived mid-morning at the Gemelli hospital in Rome, where he is expected to stay for several days during a recovery period which will see the cancellation of all papal audiences until June 18.

The 86-year-old, who underwent colon surgery in 2021, is suffering from a hernia that is “causing recurrent, painful and worsening” symptoms, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement.