Pope Leo to go to hospital Tuesday for lung nodule surgery

Updated on: October 12, 2026 / 8:00 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Pope Leo to go to hospital Tuesday for lung nodule surgery

TL;DR

  • Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule.
  • He will be admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday.
  • The Pope revealed the discovery of the nodule himself, describing it as early stage and circumscribed.
  • The surgery requires a weeklong hospital recovery.
  • The Vatican press office denied reports that an inflammation precipitated the tests.
  • Pope Leo's decision to publicly announce the surgery signifies an unusual level of transparency.
  • A lung nodule is a small abnormal area on a CT scan, not always related to lung cancer screening.
  • Despite the upcoming surgery, the Pope continued with his usual Vatican duties on Monday.
  • His major trip planned for November to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru may be affected by the surgery and recovery.