Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital to remove a lung nodule. The Vatican confirmed the operation was completed successfully, with the pope expected to stay for a week.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, to remove a lung nodule at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The Vatican announced that the operation was completed "successfully, on schedule and as planned," and the 71-year-old pontiff returned to his room following the procedure.
The surgery was performed by a team led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon. The Vatican stated that the procedure would determine whether the lesion is malignant and if further treatment is required. Pope Leo had disclosed the discovery of the nodule during his Sunday noon prayer, describing it as "well-contained" and detected at a "very early stage."
Medical experts consulted by OSV News noted that lung nodules are common and typically benign. Dr. Stacey Su, chief of thoracic surgery at Fox Chase Cancer Center, stated, "Lung nodules are very common, and 90% of the time, they are benign." Dr. Sonali Sethi, an interventional pulmonologist at the Cleveland Clinic, added that "in the U.S. alone, 1.5 million lung nodules are seen in imaging a year" and that "95% of the time, what we see is benign."
Dr. Lorenzo Spaggiari, director of thoracic surgery at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, who is not involved in the pope’s care, said that even if the nodule is cancerous, the prognosis is "excellent" because it was removed at an early stage. He noted that the surgical risk for patients in good health is small, carrying a "0.6% to 0.8% mortality rate."
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo would require a weeklong hospital stay. Consequently, all papal audiences and public appearances were canceled through Oct. 20. This includes meetings, addresses, ceremonies, and participation in a Mass in St. Peter’s Square.
While Gemelli Hospital has a specific papal apartment on the 10th floor used by previous popes, the Vatican press office stated that Pope Leo is staying in a nearby room because the apartment is currently undergoing renovations.
The recovery period may affect Pope Leo’s planned apostolic visit to Latin America, scheduled for Nov. 6-17. The itinerary includes stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, involving just over 19,000 miles of travel and significant altitude changes in Peru.
Tokyo Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu, who met with the pope on Monday, reported that Leo said he felt fine and decided to have the surgery immediately to avoid altering his travel plans. "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," Kikuchi said.
However, medical experts caution that flying too soon after lung surgery carries risks. Simon Ekman and Signe Friesland, senior oncologists at Karolinska University Hospital, noted that risks include air leakage and blood clots. "Generally, we recommend not to fly within a month after lung surgery, but it is really a judgment by the treating physicians to recommend what is safe or not," they said. Dr. Spaggiari stated that the European Institute of Oncology advises patients not to fly for three weeks after surgery.
This event marks the first publicly disclosed major health problem of Pope Leo XIV’s 17-month papacy. The transparency surrounding the diagnosis and surgery highlights the Vatican’s communication strategy regarding the pontiff’s health. The outcome of the pathology tests will determine if additional medical treatment is necessary, which could influence the pope’s ability to fulfill his extensive travel schedule in November.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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