Pope Francis, 86, will have surgery on his abdomen on Wednesday afternoon at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican said in a statement. It added that his medical team had decided in recent days that surgery was required and that he was expected to stay in hospital for “several days” to recover.

Pope Francis will need to undergo a surgery on his abdomen on Wednesday afternoon in a Rome hospital, the Vatican said.

The pontiff will remain hospitalized for “several days” to recover following the operation at Gemelli hospital, according to a Vatican statement.

It also said the papal team had decided in recent days that surgery was necessary to treat an intestinal constriction.

Francis, 86, will be put under general anesthesia and will undergo a “laparotomy and abdominal wall plastic surgery with prosthesis” to treat a “recurrent, painful and worsening” constriction of the intestine.

“The stay at the health facility will last several days to allow for the normal postoperative course and full functional recovery,” the statement added.