Pope Francis is recovering after a three-hour operation to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall, problems that developed following previous surgeries.

"The night went well," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement early Thursday, adding further updates would be released later.

Francis, 86, underwent a three-hour operation in a Rome hospital on Wednesday, June 7 to repair a hernia, which doctors said was successful enough that he should have no limitations on his travels and other activities after he recovers.

In July 2021 he had part of his colon removed in an operation aimed at addressing a painful bowel condition called diverticulitis. He said earlier this year that the condition had returned and was affecting his weight.

On Tuesday, the Roman Catholic leader went for a check-up at the hospital and was admitted Wednesday following his general audience.

POPE FRANCIS UNDERGOING ABDOMINAL SURGERY IN ROME TO DEAL WITH INTESTINAL ISSUE

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, director of abdominal and endocrine sciences at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said in a press conference that the Pope woke up in good spirits, and was even joking after.

"When will we do the third one?" Alfieri said, quoting the Pope.

The surgeon had previously removed part of Francis’ colon in 2021. 

During the operation, doctors removed adhesions, or internal scarring, on the intestine that had caused a partial blockage. Alfieri revealed that in addition to the 2021 colon surgery, Francis had undergone previous abdominal surgeries sometime before 2013 in Argentina, which had also caused scarring.

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After that surgery in 2021, the Argentine pope lamented that he hadn’t responded well to the general anesthetic. That reaction in part explained his refusal to have surgery to repair strained knee ligaments that have forced him to use a wheelchair and walker for over a year.

However, Alfieri said Francis had no clinically adverse reactions to the anesthesia in 2021 or Wednesday.

"Clearly no one likes to be operated on and put to sleep because the moment we’re put under, we lose consciousness," he said. "But there was no physiological problem two years ago or today."

Alfieri cautioned that while strong, the pope was elderly and recently had bronchitis so "we will take all necessary precautions" regarding the timing of the hospital stay. 

The Vatican said all the pope's private and general audiences had been canceled until June 18 as a precautionary measure. 

The pope has a busy summer schedule in the coming months with two trips to Portugal and to Mongolia. He is expected to attend the World Youth Day and visit the Shrine of Fatima in Aug. 2-6, and to Mongolia Aug. 31-Sept. 4, one of the more remote places he has traveled to.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Biden offered additional resources to Canada during a phone call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday as historic wildfires rage through the country, pushing smoke into American states as far south as North Carolina.

The president has directed all available federal firefighting assets to be deployed in efforts to suppress the hundreds of fires impacting Canadian and American communities, according to a release from the White House.

As of Wednesday evening, the U.S. has sent more than 600 firefighters and support personnel across the border to assist with the response.

"The two leaders also discussed continued cooperation to prevent wildfires and address the health impacts that such fires have on our communities," the White House said, adding that Biden and Trudeau remain in "close touch" for emerging needs.

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Trudeau confirmed on Twitter Wednesday evening that hundreds of American firefighters "recently arrived" in Canada and more are on the way, adding that he is thankful for the "critical support."

Both leaders took the opportunity to blame the fires on climate change, with Biden including in a tweet that Canada's record wildfires are "intensifying because of the climate crisis."

Trudeau echoed similar sentiments in a longer tweet, writing: "We’re seeing more and more of these fires because of climate change. These fires are affecting everyday routines, lives and livelihoods, and our air quality. We’ll keep working – here at home and with partners around the world – to tackle climate change and address its impacts."

CANADA WARNS OF RECORD 2023 WILDFIRE DESTRUCTION AS TRAVELING SMOKE IMPACTS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS

As of Thursday morning, there are 439 active wildfires in Canada, and 250 of those are considered out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. The same data reveals 116 of the 439 wildfires are under control and 73 are being held.

An interactive map from Natural Resources Canada showed parts of Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia face the greatest fire risk as of Wednesday.

Smoke from the fires in eastern Canada has drifted south into the United States, prompting unhealthy and hazardous air quality alerts from the mid-Atlantic through the northeast and parts of the Upper Great Lakes, according to AirNow.

As of midnight on Thursday, multiple areas in the northeastern region were facing "hazardous" air quality index levels of over 400, forcing warnings to "avoid all outdoor activity."

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Most of the cities experiencing the highest alert level were in the Pennsylvania - New Jersey region, with Philadelphia reaching 407 and Trenton reaching 416.

New York City was also experiencing a "hazardous" alert with an air quality index level of 301.

As the smoke is expected to continue impacting the U.S. for days to come, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued the following recommendations: wear a N95 respirator mask if the air seems smoky, limit time outdoors by only performing essential activities and reschedule outdoor work tasks.