In a brief statement, the Holy See Press Office said the 71-year-old pontiff was recovering at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after undergoing the operation on Tuesday.

“The Pope had a peaceful night,” the Vatican said, adding that further information about his condition would be released later Wednesday.

The pontiff underwent surgery after medical examinations revealed a nodule in his right lung, which doctors subsequently confirmed to be cancerous.

According to the Vatican, surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung using a minimally invasive, camera-guided procedure.

In a medical statement, Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora explained that tissue examinations conducted during the operation confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer.

“The intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected by the preoperative tests,” the Vatican’s medical statement said.

The operation was described as successful, with the pope spending approximately three hours in the operating room.

The surgical procedure itself lasted about 90 minutes, according to Vatican officials.

Pope Leo is now recovering at Gemelli Hospital, one of Rome’s leading medical institutions and a facility traditionally used to provide specialized care for pontiffs.

The hospital also treated his predecessor, Pope Francis, who died in 2025 at the age of 88.

The Vatican has not yet provided additional details about the pope’s long-term treatment plan or whether further medical intervention will be necessary.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church, was elected pontiff in May 2025.

His hospitalization has drawn attention to his health as he continues his responsibilities as the spiritual leader of the world’s Catholic community.

For now, the Vatican’s latest update indicates that the pope had a peaceful first night following surgery, with further medical information expected as his recovery progresses.