Vatican Pope Surgery
The statue of late Pope John Paul II is pictured at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.
As featured on
The Vatican says Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to the hospital Tuesday in the late morning. He is then to have an operation to remove a lung nodule. The 71-year-old Leo revealed the discovery during his Sunday noon prayer and said he was following doctors’ advice to remove the nodule. The Vatican press office said Monday that no particular issue precipitated the checkup that identified the nodule. On Monday, Leo had a full day of audiences and meetings. Leo presided over six private audiences and one group audience. Late Monday, the Vatican canceled all his audiences through Oct. 20.
Pope Leo XIV is set to undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule, a procedure that will determine if the lesion is malignant. The Vatican has canceled all his audiences through Oct. 20. The pope revealed the nodule's discovery during his Sunday noon prayer, emphasizing its early detection. Experts say the surgery, which includes a biopsy, is minimally invasive and carries a low risk. If the nodule is cancerous, the prognosis is excellent due to early removal. Leo's openness about his health is a shift from the Vatican's traditionally guarded approach to papal health issues.
