The Vatican says that the Pope has been hospitalized with an acute throat infection.

The Polish-born Pope, 84, who has been in poor health for several years, fell ill with influenza on Sunday and had been forced to cancel all engagements over the past two days.

“I can confirm that he has been taken to hospital,” Vatican deputy spokesman Father Ciro Benedettini told Reuters. He said a full statement on his condition would be issued shortly.

Italian television said the Pope had been taken to Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he has been treated in the past.

The flu forced him to miss an audience through ill health for the first time in more than a year.

A Vatican spokesman said in a statement earlier on Tuesday that the influenza was “progressing as expected.”

“As a result, the appointments planned for the next few days have been put back,” the statement said, adding that Wednesday’s weekly general audience would not go ahead.