What we know about Pope Leo XIV's upcoming operation to remove lung nodule

Pope Leo XIV, aged 71, is set to undergo a medical procedure this week to remove a small growth, known as a pulmonary nodule, on his lung. This marks the first time a pope has publicly announced a personal medical issue. The Vatican press office has confirmed the surgery will occur in the early part of the week, though no specific date has been disclosed.

Italian media have speculated that the operation might take place on Tuesday, though Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to attend a Mass at St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning with Church leaders from around the world, and no changes to his schedule have been announced yet. Doctors anticipate the recovery period to be around a week, allowing Pope Leo XIV to depart for his planned 11-day visit to Latin America, which commences on November 6th.

The trip will take him to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, a nation dear to him as he served as a missionary there for two decades and acquired Peruvian citizenship. A pulmonary nodule is a small accumulation of tissue within the lung, typically benign, though a select few can be the preliminary stage of lung cancer. Most of these nodules are asymptomatic and are only detected during examinations for other medical conditions.

Larger nodules may result in symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and persistent coughing, sometimes accompanied by blood. The operation is typically performed under general anesthesia, with patients breathing through a tube. The procedure is expected to be carried out at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where popes are commonly treated.

Notably, Pope Leo XIV's predecessor, Francis, spent several weeks there for treatment before his passing last year. John Paul II, who headed the Church from 1978 until his death in 2005, underwent nine treatments at Gemelli, the Vatican's largest hospital, spending a total of 153 days there. The hospital is renowned for its extensive facilities, including a room dedicated to medical staff, a kitchen, bathroom, rest areas, and a chapel.