Pope Leo XIV was admitted to a hospital in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday for an operation to remove a small growth discovered in his lung, with the Vatican saying the procedure was scheduled for the afternoon.
The 71-year-old pontiff, who became head of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, is undergoing his first hospitalisation since assuming the papacy.
According to the Vatican, the pulmonary nodule was detected at an early stage during routine medical examinations. A pulmonary nodule is a small growth of tissue in the lung that may be benign or, in some cases, an early sign of a more serious condition.
Pope Leo disclosed the development on Sunday after the Angelus prayers at St Peter’s Square, informing worshippers that doctors had discovered the growth during recent medical checks and recommended surgery.
“The doctors believe it would be right to intervene,” the pontiff said.
The pope left the Vatican by car on Tuesday, waving to well-wishers before arriving at the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome. He smiled and waved at people waiting to see him before entering the medical facility.
The Vatican confirmed that the operation would be carried out by the hospital’s thoracic surgery team, led by Professor Stefano Margaritora.
The pontiff is expected to require approximately one week to recover, while his scheduled audiences have been cancelled until October 20.
Cardinals Say Pope Is Calm Ahead of Surgery
Despite concerns surrounding the procedure, senior Catholic officials who met with Pope Leo on Monday said he appeared relaxed and remained in good spirits.
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, told the ANSA news agency that the pope had been very calm when they discussed the lung nodule.
Similarly, Japanese Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi told Italian newspaper La Repubblica that Leo appeared relaxed and maintained his usual sense of humour.
The Vatican has traditionally maintained a high level of secrecy regarding the health of popes. However, the institution became more open about medical developments during the final illness of Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor, who died last year.
Pope to Stay at Gemelli Hospital
The Gemelli University Hospital is the traditional medical facility used by popes in Rome. Pontiffs are usually accommodated in a special suite on the hospital’s 10th floor, which includes a chapel, kitchen, bathroom and meeting room.
However, because the usual papal suite is undergoing renovation, Pope Leo will stay in another suite on the same floor. Security arrangements are expected to remain strict throughout his stay.
His personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, who cared for Pope Francis during several hospital admissions, is also expected to assist him during the recovery period.
Medical Experts Explain Lung Nodule
Pope Leo, who was born in Chicago, United States, is the first American to become pope and is generally regarded as being in good health.
Medical experts have indicated that removing a pulmonary nodule is not necessarily a high-risk procedure, particularly when the growth is detected early.
Marco Scarci, a thoracic surgery expert in the United Kingdom, told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the operation was not considered particularly risky and expressed optimism about the pope’s recovery.
However, he noted that although the pontiff could recover from the immediate effects of the operation relatively quickly, it might take up to three months for him to return to his previous level of physical fitness.
Professor Federico Venuta, head of thoracic surgery at Policlinico Umberto I Hospital in Rome, explained that small lung nodules are sometimes referred to as “coin lesions” because they can appear round and coin-like on X-ray images.
According to Venuta, such growths may result from several conditions, including inflammation, infections, autoimmune disorders or congenital abnormalities. In some cases, however, they may be cancerous.
Small pulmonary nodules often produce no noticeable symptoms, meaning they can be discovered during routine medical examinations. Larger growths may cause shortness of breath, chest pain or persistent coughing, sometimes accompanied by blood.
The Vatican said Pope Leo’s nodule was discovered during routine health checks and that he had not experienced symptoms that prompted doctors to examine his lungs.
Doctors Express Optimism About Prognosis
Medical specialists have expressed optimism about the pope’s outlook, noting that lung growths detected at an early stage can often be treated successfully.
Venuta explained that the procedure may be performed under general anaesthesia, with the patient breathing through a tube during surgery.
Depending on the nature and location of a nodule, doctors may use different methods to examine or remove it. These can include image-guided procedures, endoscopy or surgery when less invasive approaches are unsuitable.
The specialist added that even if the growth were eventually found to be malignant, the outlook could remain favourable if the condition had been detected early and had not spread to other parts of the body.
However, the Vatican has not announced that the nodule is cancerous, and its precise nature will need to be established through medical assessment.
South American Trip Could Be Affected
Pope Leo is scheduled to embark on a visit to South America from November 6 to November 17, with planned stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
The trip could depend partly on how well he recovers from the operation and whether doctors consider him fit to travel.
Venuta noted that patients are generally advised to avoid air travel for approximately 20 days after certain thoracic procedures, although the recommended period may vary depending on the operation and the individual’s recovery.
It remains unclear whether the pope’s medical team will recommend any changes to his travel schedule.
The Vatican has also not provided details about the possible complications of the operation or announced any further medical findings.
For now, the immediate focus remains on the successful completion of the surgery and the pontiff’s recovery.
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