Pope Leo to Undergo Lung Surgery for Nodule Removal
WHO:
CNN - Pope Leo XIV, 71 years old, is the current pope.
CNN - Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, provided insights on lung nodules.
CNN - Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been appointed as the new dean of the College of Cardinals.
CNN - Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, is the outgoing dean of the College of Cardinals.
WHAT:
CNN - Pope Leo XIV described the nodule as "contained" and stated it had been found "at a very early stage."
CNN - The Vatican confirmed that the surgery is the first medical event of Pope Leo's 17-month papacy.
CNN - The Vatican has not specified the exact date of the surgery, but it is expected to occur in the first days of the week.
CNN - Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove “a localized nodule” in his lung.
CNN - The nodule is described as measuring less than 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) across.
CNN - The Vatican has canceled all of Pope Leo's audiences through October 20.
CNN - Pope Leo has a major trip planned from November 6 through 17 to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
WHERE:
CNN - The surgery will take place at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, formally known as the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic.
CNN - The Gemelli hospital is part of the Catholic Sacred Heart University.
WHEN:
CNN - Pope Leo is scheduled to be admitted to the hospital on Tuesday.
CNN - The Vatican predicts a weeklong hospitalization for recovery.
WHY:
CNN - The Vatican described the recent medical tests that led to the nodule's discovery as "routine," with no particular health issue prompting the check-up.
CNN - The nodule was detected during “recent medical tests,” described as “routine” by the Vatican.
CNN - Experts state that prompt evaluation of lung nodules is important as they can be benign or malignant.
HOW:
CNN - If the nodule is cancerous and removed at an early stage, Dr. Stephen Liu stated that the prognosis is "excellent," and surgery alone may be sufficient treatment.
CNN - The surgery is intended to remove the lung nodule, which could be cancerous or benign.
CNN - Patients can often be discharged after just a few days post-surgery to recover at home.
(UPDATED October 13, 2026 20:01 UTC)
Pope Leo XIV has announced that a nodule found during routine medical tests is "contained" and was discovered at a very early stage, marking the first medical event of his 17-month papacy. While the Vatican has not specified the exact date for the surgery, it is expected to take place in the first days of the week. If the nodule is cancerous and removed early, Dr. Stephen Liu has indicated that the prognosis is "excellent," suggesting that surgery alone could be sufficient for treatment.
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(UPDATED October 13, 2026 18:05 UTC)
Pope Leo XIV, who is 71 years old, is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove a localized lung nodule measuring less than three centimeters, with the procedure taking place at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The Vatican has canceled all of Pope Leo's audiences through October 20, as he is expected to be hospitalized for about a week following the surgery, which is set for Tuesday. Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been appointed as the new dean of the College of Cardinals, succeeding Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who is 92 years old.