// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Pope's surgery to remove lump on lung 'concluded successfully', Vatican says
Pope Leo arrived at Rome's Gemelli Hospital ahead of his surgery on Tuesday
Pope Leo XIV's surgery to remove a lump on his lung "concluded successfully", the Vatican says.
The 71-year-old pontiff was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for surgery on Tuesday after the lump was detected during what the Vatican has described as "routine checks".
"The operation concluded successfully, on time and as expected, and the Holy Father returned to his room," the Vatican said in a statement.
Earlier, large crowds gathered outside the hospital to greet the Pope, with some waiting for several hours.
They cheered greetings and well wishes as he passed, while he waved and smiled back through the lowered back window of his car.
He was then met by staff on the hospital steps. "I'm sorry," one of them commiserated, to which the Pope gave a smile and a shrug. "We're here for you," he was assured.
It was Leo XIV himself who on Sunday announced news of his operation to the world, speaking from the balcony in St Peter's Square after delivering the traditional Angelus blessing.
He said the nodule, or growth, on his lung was "contained" and had been found "at a very early stage", but that doctors had advised him to have it removed.
Gemelli's thoracic surgery team operated on the Pope, whose schedule has already been cleared until 20 October to give him time to recover.