Pope to undergo lung surgery Tuesday

Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday to undergo surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule from his lung. The 71-year-old pontiff announced the news during his Sunday noon prayer in St. Peter's Square, stating he was following medical advice to have the small growth removed after it was discovered during recent medical evaluations.

While the Vatican press office has not specified when the actual operation will take place, the hospitalization is expected to last approximately one week for recovery. SABC News reported that the pope is expected to be admitted late Tuesday morning. Regarding the discovery, CBS News stated the pope revealed the nodule was circumscribed and found at an early stage, while Colombia One noted he did not specify the nature of the nodule or confirm any indications of malignant disease.

The Vatican press office clarified on Monday that no particular issue prompted the recent medical tests, denying reports from Italian media that inflammation had triggered the checkup. SABC News reported the nodule was found during a routine health check. Despite the upcoming procedure, the pope maintained a schedule on Monday, including several meetings and a session with a Rome-based charity group.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Punch Nigeria, CBS News, SABC News, Colombia One — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.