Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital tomorrow, Tuesday, to undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule, the pontiff himself announced Sunday during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square. The hospitalization, which is expected to last approximately one week, comes after doctors detected the lesion and recommended its removal.
The 71-year-old pontiff told the faithful that specialists had identified a lung abnormality during recent medical evaluations and considered surgery advisable. Leo XIV provided some details about the finding but did not specify the nature of the nodule or confirm whether there were any indications of a malignant disease.
Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery for lung nodule Tuesday
The decision to undergo surgery was based, in his own words, on the recommendations of his medical team. The pope described the lesion as localized and detected at an early stage, two characteristics that, however, are not sufficient on their own to establish a diagnosis or predict the outcome of the procedure.
The Vatican confirmed that the hospital admission will take place this Tuesday, although it has not released detailed clinical information about the planned procedure. It has also not specified which surgical technique specialists will use or when the definitive results of tests on the removed tissue will be available.
Lung nodules are small lesions that can develop for various reasons, including inflammatory processes, infections, or tumors. Their detection does not necessarily mean that cancer is present. To determine their nature, doctors assess factors such as the lesion’s size, shape, density, and progression, as well as the patient’s medical history and imaging test results.
In Leo XIV’s case, the information disclosed so far is insufficient to establish a diagnosis. Although the pontiff described the nodule as localized and detected at an early stage, the Vatican has not confirmed whether it is benign or malignant, nor has it reported any other lung abnormalities.
Removal of the nodule will allow doctors to extract the lesion and, depending on subsequent test results, determine its nature more precisely. However, until the medical findings become available, any conclusions about possible cancer or the need for additional treatment would be premature.
For now, the Holy See has not announced whether the pope will require further procedures or provided details about any subsequent treatment. His clinical progress in the days following surgery will be crucial in determining when he can fully resume his activities.
Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers.
— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) October 11, 2026
The Pontiff’s recovery and schedule
The procedure comes at a time of intense activity for Leo XIV, who has maintained his official commitments while preparing for his hospital admission. The recovery period could require adjustments to his schedule in the coming weeks, although the Vatican has not announced any definitive changes.
One of the main upcoming events is a 12-day international trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, scheduled to begin on November 6. The visit will hold particular significance in Peru, where the pontiff, born in the United States as Robert Francis Prevost, spent years carrying out missionary and episcopal work and acquired Peruvian citizenship.
The Holy See has not confirmed whether the surgery will affect preparations for the trip, nor has it set a definitive date for the pope’s full recovery. Decisions will depend on his progress following the procedure and his doctors’ recommendations.
