PITTSBURGH — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh says Bishop David Zubik’s surgery Monday on damaged discs in his back has been successful.

The diocese says the bishop was “resting comfortably” at UPMC Mercy hospital and is hoping to return home in the near future. The diocese asked for prayers for the bishop’s strength and healing.

The bishop leads about 630,000 Catholics in 192 parishes in and around Pittsburgh in a six-county area of southwestern Pennsylvania.