Pope Francis to Undergo Abdominal Surgery on Wednesday

Pope Francis will undergo abdominal surgery on Wednesday to alleviate recurring pain, a Vatican spokesman said, about two months after being hospitalized with a pulmonary infection.

(Bloomberg) — Pope Francis will undergo abdominal surgery on Wednesday to alleviate recurring pain, a Vatican spokesman said, about two months after being hospitalized with a pulmonary infection.

Francis, 86, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he’ll be placed under anesthesia for surgery. He is expected to remain there several days, the spokesman said.

Read More: Pope Francis Hospitalized With Pulmonary Infection, Vatican Says

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Francis has been spiritual leader to the world’s roughly 1.3 billion Catholics since his predecessor’s abdication in 2013.

Francis is the first pope from the Americas, the first non-European to attain the post since Gregory III in the 8th century and the first Jesuit to ever hold the position.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com