Pope Leo XIV planned surgery to remove lung ‘nodule’ – what to know – National

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to undergo surgery this week to remove “a localized nodule” in his lung that was “discovered at a very early stage.” It is the first medical event of his 17-month papacy.

The Vatican said he would be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday and predicted a week-long recovery.

Here’s what is known:

A lung nodule is a small abnormal area measuring less than three centimeters (about 1.2 inches). It is sometimes detected on a CT scan to investigate another problem, such as trauma or a lung infection, according to the American Cancer Society.

Experts say the nodule can be benign or malignant and that prompt evaluation is important.

If the lump is cancerous and is removed early, the prognosis is “excellent,” and surgery alone may be sufficient treatment, said Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Leo, 71, is considered otherwise healthy and physically fit, both positive factors for his recovery. He said the lump was discovered during “recent medical tests,” and the Vatican said Monday that no particular health problem prompted the check, describing it as “routine.”

The Vatican said Leo will be admitted to hospital late Tuesday morning and will undergo surgery in the first days of this week. Oncologists who do not treat him said patients can often be discharged after a few days to continue recovering at home.

The exact date of the operation was not released, but Leo had a full slate of audiences and appointments Monday morning and afternoon.

The Pope will be treated at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, formally known as the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, a non-profit Catholic teaching hospital that is part of the Catholic Sacred Heart University.

The facility has a special apartment for the Pope set up on the 10th floor with a private chapel. Leo’s immediate predecessor, Pope Francis, was treated there before his death in May 2025 during a long illness prompted by a respiratory crisis.

Saint John Paul II. spent so much time in Gemelli that he called it “Vatican III”, after the Vatican itself and the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.

Leo has several activities planned this week.

In addition to his regular meetings, he was scheduled to celebrate a public mass on Wednesday to conclude a weekly conference on family ministry. It was not known if someone else would celebrate the mass.

Leo also has a big trip planned November 6-17 in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It is unclear whether the surgery and recovery will affect the ambitious route, which includes a dozen flights, two helicopter rides and significant altitude changes in Peru. Leo said earlier in his remarks Sunday that he still plans to make the trip.

The Vatican has no specific rules for who takes over when a pope becomes totally incapacitated. Even though he is unconscious during the operation, Leo remains Pope and retains his authority.

Pope Francis remained in charge during his long hospitalizations, as did John Paul II. in front of him. Both made appointments and issued laws and statements from the hospital. A team of officials already takes care of daily Vatican operations.

Medical advances and longer lifespans of popes, however, have highlighted this gap in church law and prompted calls for the Vatican to prepare for a pope who becomes ill or unable to rule.

Two days before revealing his planned surgery, Leo confirmed a significant appointment.

On Friday, he approved Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the new dean of the College of Cardinals. Tagle, 69, replaces Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, whose term Francis extended in the weeks before his death.

The dean plays a significant role in a papal transition. He presides over the former pope’s funeral and helps the cardinals conduct their closed-door meetings before the conclave to discuss the future of the church. If he is under 80 when the conclave begins, he will also preside over the secret election of a new pope in the Sistine Chapel.

The Vatican released a letter Leo wrote to Re on Sunday – the day of his announcement – thanking him for his lifelong service to the Church. He particularly noted the role Re played in the recent papal transition when he celebrated Francis’ funeral.

“I do not think I am wrong in saying that you, Your Eminence, were and remain one of the most famous and valued servants of the Holy See,” wrote Leo.

& copy 2026 The Canadian Press