Pope Francis undergoes abdominal surgery for hernia

Pope Francis underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a hernia in his abdominal wall.

The Vatican said there were no complications after the three-hour surgery, during which Francis was under general anaesthesia. The 86-year-old pontiff is expected to remain in the hospital for several days. As a precaution, all papal audiences were cancelled through June 18, the Vatican said.

The pope was suffering from a “painful and worsening” hernia that formed over a previous scar, presumably from his 2021 colon surgery. Experts said the formation of the hernia, called a laparocele, is a known complication from intestinal surgery. The concern is that a portion of his intestine may have bulged through the tear and become trapped.

Francis went to the hospital for previously unannounced tests Tuesday, returned to the Vatican and presided over his audience Wednesday morning, but then went straight to Gemelli for the procedure afterwards.

Francis remains in charge of the Vatican and the 1.3-billion-strong Catholic Church, even while unconscious and in the hospital, according to canon law.

(with AP inputs)