The Vatican said in a statement that Pope Francis, 86, will receive intestinal surgery and will be put under general anesthesia.

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 pope underwent "a laparotomy and abdominal wall surgery under general anesthesia" on Wednesday, the Holy See's official news portal says. The pope had complained of abdominal pain on Tuesday.

Pope Francis successfully underwent three hours of surgery to repair an abdominal wall hernia with no complications, the Vatican and his doctor said Wednesday.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin told journalists that he expects Pope Francis will continue to work from his hospital bed as he recovers.

Pope Francis has been admitted to the hospital for surgery to repair a hernia in his intestine. It was the latest malady to befall the 86-year-old pontiff who had part of his colon removed two years ago.

Pope Francis was scheduled to undergo surgery at Rome's Gemelli hospital June 7 to treat a hernia that had developed at an incision of a previous operation, the Vatican said. The pope was to be put under general anesthesia and undergo abdominal surgery involving "plastic surgery on the abdominal wall with prosthesis,