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.

Two of Italy’s most powerful octogenarians, Pope Francis and Silvio Berlusconi, whose health conditions have in recent years kept the country in suspense, were both in the hospital Friday.

At the recommendation of his doctors, Pope Francis will not pray the Sunday Angelus in public, the Vatican said Saturday. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said at a press conference June 10 the pope would pray the Angelus in private at 12:00 p.

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

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 appears in good form a day after he went to the hospital for a checkup. Francis presided over his weekly general audience Wednesday.