Pope Leo XIV to Enter Hospital Tuesday for Surgery to Remove Lung Nodule

Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Tuesday morning for surgery to remove a localized nodule from his lung, the Vatican said on Monday. The 71-year-old American pontiff announced the plan himself during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square on Sunday.

Leo told the crowd that doctors found the nodule during recent medical examinations. "It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe it is advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it." The operation is scheduled for the coming days. The Vatican press office said recovery is expected to take about one week.

Spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed the Tuesday admission. Leo kept a full schedule of private meetings on Monday, including with bishops from Argentina, Nicaragua and the United States, before cancelling public events from Tuesday through October 20. The procedure will take place at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, which maintains a dedicated apartment for popes.

A lung nodule is a small dense mass. Most are benign. Risk of malignancy rises with age, size and smoking history, though the American Thoracic Society notes that fewer than 5 percent of nodules overall prove cancerous. The Vatican has not stated whether doctors believe this one is malignant. Thoracic surgeons describe the typical removal as a minimally invasive procedure under general anesthesia, often using a thoracoscope.

This is the first major health event of Leo's 17-month pontificate. He became the first U.S.-born pope on May 8, 2025, after the death of Francis. Leo has maintained an active public schedule and is described as physically fit. He plays tennis. The transparency of the announcement differs from earlier papal practices; Leo delivered the news directly rather than through a statement alone.

During recovery, routine Vatican operations continue, but documents requiring the pope's signature will wait. No details have been released on whether the hospitalization affects planned travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru between November 6 and 17.

Catholic communities have responded with prayers. Argentina's bishops' conference asked the faithful to pray for a successful operation and swift recovery. Italian officials including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered well-wishes. The Gemelli hospital has treated previous popes, including John Paul II and Francis.

The medical details available so far remain limited to the early detection and the decision to remove the nodule. Further information on pathology results will come after the operation. For now, the schedule change is the clearest public consequence: public audiences pause while the pope is hospitalized and recovering.