Vatican City — Multiple global and Catholic news outlets have confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will undergo a scheduled surgical procedure to remove a small nodule from one of his lungs, with a one-week hospital recovery period projected following the operation. The 71-year-old head of the Catholic Church first made the public aware of the diagnosis during his weekly Angelus address on Sunday, October 11. Per reporting from The Catholic Telegraph, medical providers detected the small, fully contained lesion, and the surgical removal will enable a full biopsy to clarify whether the growth is cancerous.
The procedure will be led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, chief thoracic surgeon at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the National Catholic Reporter confirmed. Medical officials note that Pope Leo is currently in excellent overall physical condition, maintaining a consistent routine that includes regular swimming and tennis sessions. Clinical specialists have assessed the surgery and concluded that risks associated with the procedure are very low.
Per a statement from the Holy See press office shared by Reuters, the pontiff will remain under medical observation in the hospital for approximately seven days after the operation. To support his recovery, all scheduled public audiences have been canceled starting Tuesday, October 11 through October 20.
The planned procedure will also require the pope to step back from a key upcoming Vatican gathering. The New York Times reports that Pope Leo will not be able to lead the concluding Mass for the Vatican’s ongoing meeting on family ministry, which is scheduled for this coming Wednesday. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will preside over the Mass in the pontiff’s place.
Despite the upcoming surgery and recovery commitment, the 71-year-old pope has confirmed he intends to keep his already scheduled six-nation tour of Latin America on the calendar. The trip, set to run from November 6 to 17, will include stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed that Pope Leo has rejected suggestions to reschedule the international visit, even though medical providers have warned against long-haul air travel in the immediate weeks following lung surgery.
Notably, the pontiff will retain full papal authority throughout his pre-surgical preparation, procedure, and recovery. The Vatican has no formal existing protocol that automatically transfers papal leadership to another figure during temporary periods of medical treatment or incapacitation. For the coming two weeks, however, Pope Leo’s public schedule will remain sharply limited as his medical team completes testing on the removed nodule and closely monitors his post-operative recovery progress.