Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery to remove early-stage lung nodule
Pope Leo XIV has been admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for an operation to remove a lung nodule found during routine checks. The Vatican says the growth was detected at an early stage and is contained; the procedure matters because tissue removed will usually be tested for signs of disease.
The 71-year-old Pope said doctors advised surgery, which was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, and the Vatican promised an update that evening. His engagements have been cleared until 20 October to allow recovery. He hopes to travel to Latin America in early November, including Peru, where he served as a missionary and bishop; cardinals have expressed confidence in his recovery.
- Pope Leo XIV is having a lung nodule removed.
- The growth was found during routine checks at an early stage.
- His schedule is cleared until 20 October for recovery.
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The pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, which has more than a billion members worldwide. Leo XIV, aged 71, is the first pope born in the United States and previously served as a missionary and bishop in Peru.
A lung nodule is a small area of tissue in the lung that doctors find on a scan; it can have different causes. Removing it allows doctors to examine the tissue for signs of disease, while the pope’s recovery may affect his public duties and planned travel.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Pope admitted to hospital for surgery to remove lump on his lung”.