Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery for lung nodule
Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery in Rome to remove a small, localized nodule from his lung after doctors detected it during recent medical examinations.
The 71-year-old pontiff announced the procedure during his weekly prayer in St. Peter’s Square, saying the growth had been found “at a very early stage” and was “well-contained.” He said he decided to have it removed on the advice of his doctors. The Vatican expects his recovery to take about a week.
The Vatican has not disclosed the nodule’s size, whether it is benign or malignant, or which surgical technique will be used. Lung nodules can result from infections, inflammation, scar tissue or tumors, and their presence does not necessarily indicate cancer. Testing of the removed tissue may help doctors determine its nature.
Sky News reported that Leo canceled his public events through Tuesday, October 20, ahead of the operation. Al …