Pope Leo XIV has successfully undergone surgery to remove a nodule from his lung at a hospital in Rome, with the Vatican confirming that the procedure was completed as planned.
The operation took place on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, after doctors discovered the growth during routine medical checks. The Vatican said the procedure was completed within the expected time and that the 71-year-old pontiff had returned to his hospital room.
In a brief statement, the Vatican confirmed the outcome of the operation, adding that further information would be provided later.
The procedure was successfully completed, within the expected time and in the planned manner, the statement said.
The Vatican also confirmed that Pope Leo had returned to his room following the operation.
The surgery marks Pope Leo XIV’s first hospitalisation since he became head of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025.
The pontiff disclosed the medical development during his Angelus address in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, revealing that doctors had detected the lung nodule at an early stage.
According to the pope, medical professionals recommended an intervention after identifying the growth during examinations.
“The doctors believe it would be right to intervene,” he said.
The Vatican subsequently announced that the operation would take place on Tuesday, prompting concern among Catholics and members of the public who have followed the pope’s activities since his election.
Officials who met with the pontiff on Monday reportedly described him as calm about his hospital stay.
Before the operation, the Vatican said the pope was expected to require approximately one week to recover.
His scheduled audiences have been cancelled until October 20, allowing time for his recovery following the procedure.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told Italian news agency ANSA that the pope had remained calm when they met on Monday.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, led a rosary prayer for the pontiff inside the hospital chapel. The prayer service was broadcast by the Vatican, and dozens of people attended.
Reina also called on parishes across Rome to join in prayers for the pope’s recovery.
Outside the hospital, members of the public expressed concern about the pontiff’s health, with some offering prayers and expressing relief that doctors had reportedly identified the nodule at an early stage.
A pulmonary nodule is a small growth in the lung that can be detected through medical imaging. It is sometimes described as a “coin lesion” because of its rounded appearance on an X-ray.
Lung nodules can have several causes, including inflammation, infection and other non-cancerous conditions. Some, however, may be associated with cancer.
The discovery of a lung nodule does not automatically mean that a person has lung cancer. Its nature and significance depend on factors such as its size, appearance, medical history and the results of further investigations.
According to comments reported by AFP, thoracic surgery expert Professor Federico Venuta said such growths can represent a range of benign or malignant conditions.
Venuta also indicated that the outlook can be favourable when a cancerous nodule is detected at a very early stage and there is no evidence of distant spread.
However, the Vatican has not announced that Pope Leo has cancer, and no such diagnosis should be inferred from the reported operation.
The precise nature of the pontiff’s lung nodule has not been disclosed in the information provided by the Vatican.
Born in Chicago, United States, Pope Leo XIV became the first American to lead the Catholic Church when he was elected pope in May 2025.
The 71-year-old pontiff is known for maintaining an active schedule, and he is generally believed to have been in good health before the latest medical development.
He is scheduled to undertake a visit to South America from November 6 to 17, 2026, with Uruguay, Argentina and Peru listed among the destinations.
It remains unclear whether the planned trip will be affected if his recovery takes longer than expected.
For now, the immediate priority is his recovery following the operation. The Vatican has not indicated that the procedure was unsuccessful; rather, its statement confirmed that the surgery had been completed as planned.
The pope’s hospitalisation has also drawn attention to how the Vatican communicates information about the health of the leader of the Catholic Church.
Historically, details about papal health have sometimes been limited. However, greater public attention was given to medical updates during the final years of Pope Francis, who spoke openly on several occasions about his health challenges.
Pope Leo’s latest hospitalisation comes as Catholics around the world await further updates on his condition and recovery.
Under Catholic Church law, the Cardinal Camerlengo performs specific administrative duties when the papacy becomes vacant following a pope’s death or resignation. The Church does not have a standard deputy pope who automatically assumes the pontiff’s role if he becomes temporarily incapacitated.
For now, the Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV’s lung operation was successfully completed and that he has returned to his hospital room.
Further medical updates are expected as the pontiff begins his recovery.
