Pope Leo XIV was admitted to Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome on Tuesday for surgery to remove a small nodule from his lung.
The 71-year-old pope said Monday that physicians had detected the growth at a “very early stage” and advised removing it. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the operation should be relatively brief, with Leo expected to spend about a week recovering in the hospital.
Speaking after the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, Leo said doctors had discovered “a small lump in the lung” that was found early and appeared to be in a suitable location for treatment.
Pope Leo XIV is welcomed by Health Director Andrea Cambieri as he arrives at the Gemelli University Hospital for an operation to remove a lump from his lung in Rome on October 13, 2026. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
After consulting with his medical team, the pope said he agreed that surgery was the best course and that the procedure had been arranged for the coming days. He also thanked people for their prayers and spiritual support.
The operation was expected to take place at Gemelli Hospital within days, according to Vatican sources cited by Fox News. The Rome medical center is widely known as the hospital associated with the papacy.
The Vatican has not said whether the lung nodule is cancerous. Officials have also offered no additional information about the pope’s diagnosis or the precise nature of the planned surgery.
Pope Leo XIV steps out as the first American pope in history at the Vatican on Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Vatican Media)
The health announcement was unexpected, particularly because the American-born pontiff had no publicly known medical issues and has generally maintained an energetic routine.
According to The Associated Press, Leo often plays tennis and swims while staying at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
The pope is scheduled for a significant overseas visit from Nov. 6 through Nov. 17, including stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It is not yet known whether the lung surgery or his recovery period will lead to changes in that itinerary.
Pope Leo XIV delivers the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
During his Sunday address, Leo also spoke about the continuing war in Ukraine, renewing his call for peace and emphasizing that the conflict’s consequences are being felt well beyond the country’s borders.
He said the war in Ukraine was continuing to cause hardship, particularly in poorer nations that rely heavily on Ukrainian exports of grain and other cereals.
