Pope Leo XIV to enter Gemelli Hospital on 13 October for surgery to remove early-stage lung nodule

Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital late on the morning of 13 October for surgery to remove a lung nodule. The Vatican confirmed the timing on 12 October. The 71-year-old pontiff announced the decision himself during the Angelus on 11 October in St Peter’s Square.

He said doctors found a circumscribed nodule during recent medical checks. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localised. Following medical advice, he decided to have it removed. The Vatican estimated recovery time at about one week. No diagnosis of malignancy has been announced. A lung nodule is a small localised lesion. Fewer than five percent of such nodules prove cancerous, according to the American Thoracic Society, though risk varies with size, age and other factors.

This is the first major publicly disclosed health event of Leo’s 17-month pontificate. He was elected in May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis. The former Robert Francis Prevost has no previously known serious health problems and maintains an active lifestyle that includes tennis and swimming. The surgery will take place at Gemelli, the hospital that has treated previous popes and maintains a dedicated papal suite.

Leo has a scheduled trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November. He has indicated he still intends to make the journey. The Vatican has not said whether the hospital stay will alter the itinerary. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is expected to lead a Mass on 13 October that the pope may miss.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed personal closeness and the support of the Italian government. Argentina’s bishops’ conference called for prayers for a swift recovery. The announcement was unusually direct. Leo used one of his most public weekly encounters with the faithful to deliver the information himself rather than through a later press statement.

The Vatican described the recent checks as routine and said no particular health issue prompted them. Oncologists not involved in the case noted that patients with small, early nodules can often leave hospital after a few days and complete recovery at home. Exact operating times have not been released. Leo kept a full schedule of audiences on 12 October before the planned admission.

The procedure is expected to be limited to removal of the localised nodule. The Vatican has not released further medical details. Recovery estimates remain at one week. The November Latin American tour remains on the calendar as of 12 October.