Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Lung Surgery on Tuesday
By Joyce Sunny, FOREIGN DESK – Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to hospital on Tuesday morning for surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule, a small growth of tissue in the lung, the Vatican has announced.
The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed on Sunday that he would undergo an operation “in the coming days”, although further details about his condition and the planned procedure were not immediately available.
The surgery will mark the first hospitalisation of Pope Leo XIV since he became head of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025.
As leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, the pope’s health remains a matter of global interest, with the planned operation drawing attention to his medical condition and capacity to continue his official duties.
A pulmonary nodule is a small, rounded growth in the lung that may result from various causes. Such nodules are not necessarily cancerous, and further medical assessment is often required to determine their nature.
The Vatican’s announcement comes as the pontiff continues his leadership of the Catholic Church following his election in May 2025.
