Pope Leo to go to hospital Tuesday for lung nodule surgery

Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to the hospital on Tuesday, days after he shared he would undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule discovered during recent medical tests, the Vatican announced.

The U.S.-born pontiff revealed the discovery of the nodule during his Sunday noon prayer and said he was following doctors' advice to have it removed.

"The doctors believe it's best to take action, so, following their advice, I've decided to have surgery to remove it," Leo, 71, said Sunday. "Thank you for your spiritual support, and I entrust myself to your prayers."

The Vatican press office said Monday that no particular issue precipitated the tests, denying Italian media reports suggesting an inflammation had prompted Leo to undergo the checkup.

The pope's surgery marks the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate. It was significant because the pope himself revealed the news, in perhaps the most public way possible: at the end of his Sunday noon blessing with thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.

Leo's decision and reveal suggested an unusual level of transparency by the American pope.

On Monday, it was business as usual at the Vatican. Leo presided over an audience with members of a Rome-based charity, the Circolo San Pietro, and received a donation from them. He spoke in a strong, clear voice, praising their service and sacrifice. The crowd gave him a rousing round of applause afterward.

In the afternoon, he was expected to continue his audiences and, if time, rejoin a weeklong conference he convened on ministering to families.

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