The surgeon who operated on Francis to treat a painful abdominal hernia said the 86-year-old pope was likely to remain hospitalized for at least five days.

Pope Francis was recovering well in a Rome hospital on Thursday, the day after the 86-year-old had abdominal surgery that renewed health fears.

Pope Francis is resting comfortably after a three-hour surgery on his abdominal wall where he did not face complications, the Vatican said on Thursday.

The Vatican said that Pope Francis' recovery is going well after a 3-hour-long surgery to repair a hernia in his abdominal wall. The pope underwent surgery in Rome, Italy.

Pope Francis awoke Thursday after a good first night in the hospital following a three-hour operation to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall, problems that developed following previous surgeries.

Pope Francis had a restful day on Thursday, the Vatican said in a statement, adding his post-operative recovery was progressing regularly after an abdominal surgery the day before.

The Vatican said the procedure sought to address an obstruction caused by a “painful” hernia and that Francis would be hospitalized for several days.