Pope Benedict XVI left the hospital in northern Italy smiling after he underwent surgery on his wrist Friday morning, a Vatican spokesman said.

The 82-year-old pontiff broke his wrist in a fall during his vacation in the Alps. A statement from the Vatican said the pope fell in his room overnight and despite the accident, celebrated Mass and had breakfast in the morning before going to the hospital.

Doctors found a small fracture in the pope's right wrist before performing the 20-minute operation.

Dr. Amedeo Mancini, the orthopedic surgeon who performed Friday's operation, said the pope would suffer no long-term effects from the fracture.

"It was a special patient for a routine operation," he said.

Mancini added that the pontiff was an excellent patient and readily agreed to the surgery.

Pope Benedict XVI has been healthy during his five-year pontificate and there have been no other reports of medical problems.