Health · Healthcare & Policy · 2 hrs ago
Pope Leo XIV enters Rome hospital for planned lung nodule surgery
Pope Leo XIV arrived at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Tuesday for planned surgery to remove a lung nodule.
The 71-year-old pope said he had learned about the small nodule on Sunday and chose to have it removed promptly.
Tests will determine whether the nodule is cancerous and whether he needs more treatment.
Doctors may also remove nearby lymph nodes, but the exact procedure was not confirmed.
The surgery is expected to require a week in hospital, and the Vatican has canceled the pope’s public audiences through October 20.
The test results will guide any further treatment, but no outcome was available yet.
Pope Leo XIV arrived at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Tuesday for planned surgery to remove a lung nodule.
The 71-year-old pope revealed the nodule during his Sunday midday prayer and said it would be removed.
Doctors’ tests are expected to determine whether the nodule is malignant and whether further treatment is needed.
The Vatican canceled all of Leo’s audiences through October 20, and the surgery is expected to require a week in hospital.
- Who
- Pope Leo XIV, 71.
- What
- He entered hospital for planned surgery to remove a lung nodule.
- When
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
- Where
- Gemelli hospital in Rome.
- Why
- The nodule is to be removed so doctors can determine whether it is malignant and whether further treatment is needed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Leo revealed during his midday prayer that a small lung nodule had been found and said he would have it removed.
The Vatican canceled all of Leo’s audiences through October 20.
Cardinal Tsutomu Kikuchi said Leo told him he felt well and had decided to have surgery promptly.
Leo arrived at Gemelli hospital in Rome for the planned surgery.
- Patient
- Pope Leo XIV, 71
- Hospital
- Gemelli hospital, Rome
- Procedure
- Planned removal of a lung nodule
- Expected hospital stay
- One week
- Audiences canceled through
- October 20
- Published
- October 13, 2026
What people are saying
These are things that can be treated very well, if the words he used reflect the clinical situation.
It is a very well-established technology. This is something we have been doing for 20 years.
Sources
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