Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday for surgery to remove a lung nodule discovered during recent medical tests, the Vatican has announced.
The Holy See press office did not say when the operation would take place, but said the 71-year-old pontiff would require about a week of recovery in hospital. Gemelli has a special apartment reserved for the Pope.
Leo revealed the diagnosis during his Sunday noon prayer in St Peter’s Square, telling thousands of people that the nodule had been found at an early stage and was “circumscribed”.
“The doctors believe it’s best to take action, so, following their advice, I’ve decided to have surgery to remove it,” he said. “Thank you for your spiritual support, and I entrust myself to your prayers.”
The Vatican said no particular problem had prompted the medical tests. Its statement followed reports in Italian media that inflammation had led to the check-up, which the press office denied.
A lung nodule is a small abnormal area, measuring less than an inch, which can appear on a CT scan of the chest or abdomen. Such scans are often carried out while investigating trauma or a lung infection, rather than as part of lung cancer screening.
Leo’s admission will be the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate. His decision to disclose the condition himself, during a public blessing, represented an unusually open approach to the Pope’s health.
The Vatican has historically closely guarded information about papal illnesses. Pope Francis was more open about his frailties and spoke about his eventual death, although details about his health remained tightly controlled during his pontificate.
Before his hospital admission, Leo continued with a full programme of official duties. On Monday he met members of the Rome-based Circolo San Pietro charity, accepted a donation and praised its service and sacrifice in a speech delivered in a strong, clear voice.
He also held six private audiences, made three appointments and signed a letter thanking the outgoing dean of the College of Cardinals for his service. It remained unclear whether the surgery and recovery would affect his planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
