Pope Francis cancels hearings until June 18

The leader of the Catholic Church is undergoing surgery to repair a hernia that formed over an old abdominal scar, Vatican sources explained.

Pope Francis’ Appointments Canceled Until June 18, Italian Diocese Says

Daniel Ibanez/CNA Pope Francis on the morning of June 7, 2023 shortly before heading to the hospital for abdominal surgery greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter's Square. Bishop Lorenzo Leuzzi invited Catholics to unite in prayer for Pope Francis, especially on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, which will be celebrated on Sunday.

The hearings of Pope Francis, who underwent surgery in Rome this Wednesday for an abdominal hernia, were canceled until June 18, the Holy See press service reported.

According to the medical team, the pope will have to be hospitalized for several days.

The procedure under general anesthesia undergone by the 86-year-old Argentine pope, still underway Wednesday in the middle of the afternoon, will require “several days” of hospitalization.