Rome, Italy - Pope Leo XIV underwent an operation at a Rome hospital Tuesday to remove a nodule from his lung that was "successfully completed", the Vatican said.

Pope Leo XIV entered the hospital smiling and waving on Tuesday morning hours before the surgery to remove the growth that looks like a coin on the lung.

"The procedure was successfully completed, within the expected time and in the planned manner," the Vatican said in a brief statement.

"The Holy Father has returned to his room," it said, adding that more details would be given later.

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The surgery marks the 71-year-old Leo's first hospitalisation since he became head of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025. Vatican officials who saw the pope on Monday said he appeared relaxed about the hospital stay.

In a surprise announcement following Angelus prayers on Sunday, Leo told crowds in St Peter's Square that doctors had discovered the nodule "at a very early stage" during medical checks.

"The doctors believe it would be right to intervene," he said.

The Vatican has historically been very secretive about the health of popes, but began to be more transparent during the illness of Leo's predecessor Francis, an Argentine who freely discussed his ailments.

The Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, led a rosary prayer for the pope inside the hospital chapel, which was broadcast by the Vatican. Dozens of people attended, and Reina asked all the city's parishes to join in.

Ahead of the surgery, the Vatican said the pope's recovery time was expected to be about a week. His audiences have been cancelled until October 20.

The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, told ANSA news agency that Leo had been "very calm" about his condition when they met on Monday.