(CNN) – The Vatican announced that Pope Francis’ surgery for “diverticulitis of the colon” had ended and that he had “responded well”.

The Pope went to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday to perform what the Vatican described as a planned surgery for “diverticulitis of the colon.”

“The Holy Father reacted well to the surgery, which was performed under general anaesthesia,” Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press office, said in a written statement.

He confirmed that the surgery for sigmoid stenosis was performed by Professor Sergio Alfieri with the assistance of Professor Luigi Sovo, Dr. Antonio Tortorelli and Dr. Roberta Menghi.

“Anesthesia was performed by Professors Massimo Antonelli and Liliana Solazzi and doctors Roberto de Sico and Maurizio Suave. Professors Giovanni Battista Doglito and Roberto Bernabe were in the operating room,” he explained.

The 84-year-old pope was admitted to hospital for a scheduled surgery just hours after performing the traditional Sunday prayers to the angels in St Peter’s Square.

About diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is inflammation that occurs when people develop small pouches in the walls of the colon.

The sacs or sacs are called diverticula. It usually has no symptoms, but it can cause discomfort and occasional bleeding.

It’s a common condition that affects more than half of adults in the United States, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and it’s more common with age.