Pope Leo XIV Enters Rome Hospital for Surgery to Remove Lung Nodule

Pope Leo XIV entered Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday 13 October for surgery to remove a lung nodule. The 71-year-old pontiff announced the plan himself during his Sunday Angelus address in St. Peter's Square on 11 October. He said doctors found the nodule during recent medical checks. It was detected at an early stage, was circumscribed, and was well-localized. The Vatican said recovery is expected to take about one week.

The surgery marks the first major health event of Leo's pontificate. He was elected on 8 May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis. Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, is the first American pope. He has no previously known serious health problems. He plays tennis weekly and swims at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. The nodule was described as small. The Vatican has not stated whether doctors believe it is malignant. Lung nodules are often benign. The American Thoracic Society notes that fewer than 5 percent of such nodules become cancerous, though risk increases with age and size.

Leo made the announcement in Italian during the public blessing. He thanked the crowd for their closeness and asked for prayers. The Vatican press office later confirmed that he would be admitted on Tuesday late morning. The operation is scheduled at Gemelli, the hospital that maintains a special apartment for popes and has treated several previous pontiffs, including John Paul II and Francis. The Vatican canceled the pope's audiences through 20 October to allow for the procedure and initial recovery.

Leo has a planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from 6 to 17 November. He stated on Sunday that he still intended to make the journey. The itinerary includes several public events. The one-week recovery estimate would leave a short interval before departure. Vatican officials have not confirmed whether the schedule will remain unchanged. Argentine bishops have called for special prayers for a successful operation and full recovery. Other Catholic conferences have issued similar statements.

The decision to announce the condition publicly during the Angelus was unusual. Previous popes have sometimes released health information through spokespeople rather than in person. Leo chose to deliver the news himself. He said the doctors advised action and that he had accepted their recommendation. The nodule was found at a very early stage. No other symptoms have been reported. The pope has continued his regular schedule of public appearances until the admission date.

Gemelli Hospital has handled papal care for decades. The facility is prepared for the security and medical requirements of the pontiff. After the operation, Leo is expected to remain in the hospital for observation before returning to the Vatican. The one-week recovery window is an estimate. Actual recovery will depend on the surgical findings and the pope's response. The Vatican has not released further medical details. It has stated that the procedure is limited to removal of the localized nodule.

The announcement and the hospital admission have drawn attention because of Leo's relatively short time in office and his planned international travel. The Latin American trip would be one of his first major foreign visits as pope. Whether the surgery alters that itinerary will become clearer after the operation. For now, the Vatican has limited its public statements to the timing of admission, the expected recovery period, and the fact that the nodule was caught early. Catholics worldwide have been asked to pray for the pontiff during the procedure.