Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to hospital on Tuesday morning for surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule, a small growth in the lung, the Vatican has announced.
The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed on Sunday that he would undergo the procedure “in the coming days”.
The operation will mark Leo’s first hospitalisation since he became head of the Catholic Church, which has approximately 1.4 billion members, on May 8, 2025.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told AFP on Monday that the pope would be admitted to hospital on “Tuesday, late morning”. The Vatican said his recovery could take about a week.
The surgery is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, which has a dedicated suite for treating popes.
Leo announced the planned operation in a surprise address to worshippers gathered in St Peter’s Square after the Angelus prayer on Sunday. He said doctors had discovered the pulmonary nodule “at a very early stage” during recent medical examinations.
“The doctors believe it would be right to intervene and so, following their advice, I have decided to have the operation to remove it,” he said.
What is a pulmonary nodule?
A pulmonary nodule is a small growth of tissue in the lung. Most are benign, meaning they are not cancerous, although a small proportion may represent an early stage of lung cancer.
Small nodules generally cause no symptoms and are often discovered incidentally during medical examinations for other conditions. Larger ones may cause shortness of breath, chest pain or a persistent cough, sometimes accompanied by blood.
Depending on the nature and location of the growth, surgical removal may be performed under general anaesthesia, with the patient receiving breathing support through a tube.
Gemelli hospital’s history of treating Popes
Gemelli Hospital, located north of the Vatican, is a longstanding medical facility for treating popes.
Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, spent several weeks there receiving treatment before his death last year. Pope John Paul II, who led the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005, was also treated at the hospital on nine occasions.
A dedicated suite occupies part of the hospital’s upper floors and is accessible through a corridor guarded by Italian and Vatican police. The facilities reportedly include a private room for the pope, a meeting room for medical staff, a kitchen, a bathroom, rest areas and a small chapel.
Latin America trip ahead
Leo, born in Chicago and the first American pope, is generally believed to be in good health and is known to enjoy sports, particularly tennis.
He is expected to recover in time for a planned 11-day visit to Latin America from November 6 to 17. The trip is scheduled to include Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Since his election, the former Robert Francis Prevost has gradually established his own approach to leading the Catholic Church, addressing major issues ranging from international conflicts to artificial intelligence.
AFP
