Pope Leo XIV Successfully Undergoes Lung Nodule Removal Surgery

The Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV has successfully undergone surgery to remove a lung nodule. The procedure took place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and was carried out according to plan within the expected timeframe.

Following the operation, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the Pope has returned to his room. Officials stated they would provide additional updates on his condition at a later date.

The 71-year-old pontiff arrived at the hospital through the main entrance earlier on Tuesday, greeting dozens of well-wishers who had gathered to offer their support. The surgery was led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Gemelli Hospital.

The operation coincided with a moment of prayer in the hospital chapel, where medical staff recited the Rosary. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Vicar of Rome, led the prayer, asking for the Lord to sustain Pope Leo and comfort those currently hospitalized.

This marks the first publicly disclosed major health issue of Leo’s 17-month papacy. The American-born Pope revealed the discovery of the small, localized nodule during his weekly Sunday noon prayer, announcing his intention to have it removed immediately.

According to the Vatican, the nodule was identified during routine examinations. While its nature remains unknown, doctors note that most lung nodules are benign. Even in the event of a cancer diagnosis, oncologists have described the Pope’s prognosis as “excellent” due to the early stage of removal.

Dr. Lorenzo Spaggiari, director of thoracic surgery at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, commented on the situation. Although not involved in the Pope’s care, he expressed confidence in the treatment, stating, “These are things that can be treated very well, if the words he used reflect the clinical situation.”

The surgery is considered low-risk and typically requires general anesthesia. Patients generally need a weeklong hospital stay for recovery. In response, the Vatican canceled all of Pope Leo’s audiences through October 20.

The timing of the surgery was strategic. Pope Leo is scheduled to travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in early November, a trip covering over 19,000 miles involving twelve flights and two helicopter rides. The itinerary also includes significant altitude changes in Peru. Doctors usually recommend about three weeks of recovery without flying, making the early surgery essential to maintaining the planned schedule.

Tokyo Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu, who met with the Pope on Monday, reassured the public regarding the urgency of the situation. “He has decided to undergo surgery soon in order to not change his plans for future overseas trips, so there is no need to worry, as it is not an emergency,” Cardinal Kikuchi said.

A lung nodule is defined as an abnormal area smaller than 1.2 inches, often detected incidentally during CT scans for unrelated issues such as trauma or infection. Surgical removal is frequently recommended to determine if the nodule is malignant and to treat any potential cancer while it remains localized.