By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Pope Leo XIV successfully underwent surgery Tuesday, October 13, to remove a small nodule from his lung at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican confirmed, marking the first publicly disclosed major medical procedure of his 17-month papacy.
The 71-year-old American pontiff arrived at the hospital after a short drive from the Vatican, walking through the main entrance and greeting supporters who had gathered to wish him well. The Vatican later confirmed that the operation had been completed as planned and that Leo was recovering.
According to Associated Press reporting on the procedure, the surgery was performed by a medical team led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon. Doctors will examine the removed tissue to determine whether the nodule is malignant and whether further treatment is required.
Leo first revealed the discovery during his Sunday noon prayer, explaining that routine medical examinations had identified a small, localized abnormality in one lung. He said the condition had been detected early and that he had accepted his doctors’ recommendation to undergo surgery.
The announcement represented an unusual degree of transparency about a pontiff’s health, particularly because the Vatican has historically maintained considerable discretion surrounding papal medical conditions.
During Tuesday’s operation, medical staff and others gathered in the hospital chapel to pray for Leo’s recovery.
“Let us join together in prayer, asking the Lord to sustain our bishop, Pope Leo, and to comfort all those who are hospitalized here,” Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar of Rome, said at the beginning of the Rosary.
Medical specialists have expressed cautious optimism about the pope’s outlook, emphasizing that early detection and removal of a localized lung nodule can substantially improve treatment prospects.
Dr. Lorenzo Spaggiari, director of thoracic surgery at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, said the information released by the Vatican suggested a potentially favorable situation.
“These are things that can be treated very well, if the words he used reflect the clinical situation,” Spaggiari said.
Although not involved in Leo’s treatment, Spaggiari said surgeons could use robotic technology to examine the nodule and remove the affected portion of the lung during the same operation.
Modern robotic surgical systems allow physicians to operate through several small chest incisions, potentially reducing recovery time compared with more invasive procedures. Gemelli has equipment capable of performing both robotic biopsies and lung surgery.
Spaggiari estimated that the mortality risk for comparable procedures in otherwise healthy patients is approximately 0.6% to 0.8%, although an individual’s risk depends on overall health and the extent of surgery.
Doctors may also examine nearby lymph nodes to determine whether any malignancy has spread. If the nodule proves cancerous but remains confined to an early stage, additional treatment may not be necessary.
A lung nodule is a small abnormal growth that can be either benign or malignant. Such abnormalities are frequently discovered incidentally during imaging performed for unrelated medical reasons.
The Vatican has not announced a cancer diagnosis.
Leo is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately one week, and the Vatican has canceled his public audiences through October 20.
Because Gemelli’s traditional papal apartment is undergoing renovations, the pope is recovering in another hospital room.
The hospitalization also raises questions about his planned November 6–17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The ambitious itinerary includes approximately 19,000 miles of travel, multiple flights and significant changes in altitude.
Vatican officials have not announced any changes to the trip, although Leo’s ability to travel will depend on his postoperative recovery and medical recommendations.
Tokyo Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu, who met with the pope Monday, suggested that scheduling the procedure now could help preserve those 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.
Leo, elected in May 2025, is generally considered physically active and maintains a routine that includes tennis and swimming.
His previous significant hospitalization occurred in 1985, when he contracted typhoid fever while serving as a missionary priest in Peru. He later described the illness as a formative experience that strengthened his commitment to missionary work.
For now, attention remains focused on Leo’s recovery and the pathology results that will determine whether the removed lung nodule requires additional medical treatment.
Comments