Pope Leo XIV to undergo lung nodule surgery this week

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to undergo surgery early this week to remove a localized lung nodule that was identified during routine medical examinations. The Vatican said the procedure will take place at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, where a special apartment for pontiffs is prepared on the 10th floor.

The nodule, measuring less than three centimeters, could be benign or malignant, according to the American Cancer Society. Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer specialist at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, noted that if the growth is cancerous and removed at an early stage, the prognosis is excellent and surgery alone may be sufficient.

Leo, described as otherwise healthy and physically fit, is expected to spend about a week recovering after the operation. Oncologists not involved in his care say patients are often discharged after a few days and continue recovery at home. The exact date of his hospitalization has not been released, but his schedule on Monday suggests he will remain in the Vatican at least until Tuesday.

The pope has several engagements planned for the week, including a public Mass on Wednesday to close a family ministry conference, which Vatican officials indicated he might miss. He also confirmed his intention to travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6-17, though it is unclear how the surgery will affect that itinerary.

The Vatican noted that there are no specific rules for succession if a pope becomes incapacitated; a pope retains authority even while unconscious, as was the case with his predecessors during hospital stays.

Two days before announcing the surgery, Leo appointed Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the new dean of the College of Cardinals, succeeding Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. The dean’s role includes overseeing the papal transition and, if under 80, presiding over a future conclave.