Pope Francis has selected Fabrizio Soccorsi, MD—a world-renowned expert in liver disease and surgical medicine—as his new personal doctor, the Catholic News Agency reports.

Soccorsi, 73, is chairman of hepatology at Rome’s San Camillo Hospital, as well as an adviser of health and hygiene for the governorate of Vatican City. He is also an expert on the Medical Committee for the Congregation of the Causes of Saints, and has written dozens of academic articles about medicine throughout his 46 years as a doctor.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis decided not to renew the term of his former personal doctor, Patrizio Polisca, MD, who left his position August 1. However, Polisca still maintains his honorary role as Benedict XVI’s practitioner, as well as his post as president of the Vatican’s medical commission.

Soccorsi’s appointment means he will be traveling with the Pope on visits to Cuba and the United States later this year.

Pope Francis, who is 78 years old, joked to reporters last year that he may only have “two or three years” left to live and may retire early from his post. As of now, there are no reports showing that he has liver disease or ever has.