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The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to hospital on Tuesday for surgery to remove a small growth from his lung.
The 71-year-old pontiff announced on Sunday that he would undergo the operation in the coming days. The surgery will mark his first hospitalisation since he became head of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told AFP on Monday that the pope would be admitted late Tuesday morning. The operation is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, which has a special suite for popes. The Vatican said the pope could need about a week to recover. His public audiences have been cancelled until October 20.
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During his Sunday Angelus prayers in St Peter’s Square, Leo told the crowd that doctors had found the lung growth during recent medical checks. He said it had been detected “at a very early stage”.
“The doctors believe it would be right to intervene and so, following their advice, I have decided to have the operation to remove it,” he said.
A pulmonary nodule is a small growth of tissue in the lung. Most are benign, meaning they are not cancerous. However, a small number can be an early sign of lung cancer. Most small nodules cause no symptoms and are found during medical checks for other conditions. Larger ones can cause shortness of breath, chest pain and a persistent cough. In some cases, the cough may produce blood.
The procedure is usually performed under general anaesthetic, with the patient breathing through a tube. Gemelli Hospital, located north of the Vatican, has a long history of treating popes. Pope Francis spent weeks there receiving treatment before his death in 2025. Pope John Paul II, who led the Church from 1978 until his death in 2005, was also treated there nine times.
The hospital has a dedicated papal suite on its top floor. Italian and Vatican police protect the area, which includes a room for the pope, facilities for medical staff, a kitchen, a bathroom, rest areas, and a small chapel.
Leo, born in Chicago and the first US-born pope, is generally believed to be in good health. He enjoys sports, particularly tennis. The pope is also expected to recover in time for a planned 11-day visit to Latin America from November 6 to 17. The trip is scheduled to include Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Since his election, Leo, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, has gradually established his leadership style within the Catholic Church. He has addressed major issues, including global conflicts and the growing impact of artificial intelligence.
