Pope Leo arrives at hospital ahead of operation to remove nodule
Pope Leo XIV left the Vatican for a Rome hospital on Tuesday, where doctors are expected to remove a nodule from his lung.
The Vatican said it would provide an update Tuesday evening. The pope announced the planned operation on Sunday, and officials said his hospital recovery was expected to take about a week.
Leo said doctors found the nodule early and that it was confined to a specific area. Lung nodules can have several causes; most are noncancerous, according to the American Lung Association.
Doctors may monitor nodules or treat them with medication or surgery, depending on their characteristics and cause. The pope is scheduled to undergo surgery, but the article gives no further details about the procedure.
The operation is taking place at Gemelli Hospital, Rome’s largest hospital. Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected pope in May 2025 and is the first American to hold the role.
Key points
- Pope Leo XIV arrived at a Rome hospital Tuesday for surgery to remove a lung nodule.
- The Vatican planned to share more information Tuesday evening; recovery was expected to last about a week.
- Leo said doctors found the nodule early and in a localized area.