After it became known during the course of the day that Pope Francis (86) would undergo an operation on Wednesday (June 7), the Vatican gave the all-clear. "Pope Francis' operation is over: it went without complications," the Vatican said on Twitter. The operation is said to have lasted "three hours". It was not announced whether the head of the Catholic Church has already woken up from general anesthesia.

During the procedure, the 86-year-old Pope's abdominal cavity was opened - a so-called laparotomy. This required general anesthesia. The operation had become necessary because of a hernia that was causing Francis "recurring, painful and worsening" problems, as the Vatican had announced earlier in the day. A hernia is a break in the abdominal wall.

The operation was performed early this afternoon at the Gemelli Clinic in the heart of Rome. Pope Francis will now have to spend several days in the clinic. All papal audiences have been canceled until June 18, as the Vatican announced in the afternoon.