Pope Leo XIV has undergone successful surgery to remove a small nodule from his lung at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Vatican confirmed on Tuesday, October 13, that the procedure was completed successfully within the expected timeframe and as planned. The 71-year-old pontiff has since returned to his hospital room.
The operation was performed by a thoracic surgery team led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, the hospital’s chief thoracic surgeon.
The procedure followed the discovery of a localised growth in the pope’s lung during routine medical examinations. Leo disclosed the finding on Sunday, describing the nodule as small, well-contained and detected at an early stage.
He said he had decided to undergo surgery on the advice of his doctors.
The Vatican has not disclosed whether the removed nodule is benign or malignant, with further medical assessment needed to establish its nature.
The pope was admitted to the hospital earlier on Tuesday, with the Vatican initially estimating that he would remain there for about a week to recover. His public engagements have been cancelled until October 20.
Leo, who was elected head of the Catholic Church in May 2025, has not previously experienced a major health issue during his papacy.
Despite the surgery, the pontiff is scheduled to undertake an 11-day visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. The Vatican has not announced any change to the planned trip.
