Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer, after undergoing surgery Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican announced.

Doctors removed the lower lobe of the 71-year-old pontiff’s right lung after preoperative tests raised concerns about a small, localized nodule. The Vatican said the diagnosis was confirmed during the operation and that the procedure was completed successfully without complications.

The pope spent approximately three hours in the operating room, with the surgery itself lasting about 90 minutes. The operation was led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli Hospital’s chief thoracic surgeon.

Leo entered the hospital through its main entrance earlier Tuesday and waved to dozens of well-wishers who had gathered outside to see him. The Vatican has canceled all papal audiences through Oct. 20 as he recovers.

The diagnosis marks the first publicly disclosed major health problem of Leo’s 17-month papacy. The American-born pontiff revealed the discovery of the lung nodule during his Sunday noon prayer and announced that doctors would remove it.

Before the operation, oncologists said the pope’s prognosis could be excellent if the nodule proved cancerous and was removed at an early stage. The Vatican’s announcement confirmed the cancer diagnosis, although further details about his treatment and recovery remain limited.

Leo will recover in a hospital room near the facility’s designated papal apartment, which is undergoing renovations. The apartment, located on the hospital’s 10th floor, includes a private chapel and has been used by previous popes during hospital stays.

The Vatican has provided regular updates on the pontiff’s condition, offering an unusually transparent account of his medical treatment. Further information about his recovery and any additional treatment is expected as doctors monitor his progress.