The health conditions of two of Italy’s most prominent octogenarians have in recent years often kept the country in suspense.

The 86-year-old pope, who was last hospitalized in April, is expected to remain in the hospital for several days while he recovers.

The Vatican said Pope Francis, 86, would be put under general anesthesia and would be hospitalized for several days.

After undergoing routine medical tests in Rome on Tuesday, the Pope, 86, was admitted to A. Gemelli University Hospital for a procedure to address “recurring, painful and worsening” symptoms caused by abdominal hernia, the Vatican said. The Pope will go under general anesthesia for the surgery.

Pope Francis was again admitted to a Roman hospital Wednesday, this time for another abdominal operation, the Vatican announced. The 86-year-old pontiff was scheduled Wednesday afternoon to undergo a “laparotomy and abdominal wall surgery” at the A.

The operation was planned by the pope’s medical team in recent days after it became necessary due to a hernia that was causing worsening symptoms.

Pope Francis, 86, will undergo abdominal surgery to repair a hernia likely caused by a previous operation, the Vatican announced Wednesday.