Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer, has surgery to remove part of organ

Pope Leo XIV has been admitted to the hospital for surgery on Tuesday to remove a small growth on his lung, marking his first hospital stay since beginning his papacy. The 71-year-old pontiff informed the crowd in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday that doctors had discovered a "nodule" on his lung, which they advised be removed. A nodule is a dense tissue mass that is typically benign.

Leo stated that the growth had been detected at an early stage and was "well-contained." The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic hospital in northwest Rome, a private facility with a history of treating the pope. The hospital has a special suite of rooms for the pontiff on the 10th floor, referenced by Pope John Paul II as "Vatican three" during his frequent stays.

Pope Francis also spent an extended period there last year for pneumonia treatment. Pope Leo has canceled all public events until October 20. Dr. Matthew Triplette, medical director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program, noted that surgeries for node removal are usually minimally invasive with low complication rates, and patients typically stay in the hospital for a few days before continuing recovery at home.

The Vatican will continue functioning during the pope's hospitalization, though any tasks requiring his signature will be postponed. The Vatican lacks specific rules on leadership transfer if the pope becomes incapacitated. Even if unconscious during surgery, the pontiff retains full papal authority. While he is undergoing the procedure, the day-to-day operations of the Vatican are managed by a separate team.

The pope continued his regular schedule Monday, holding meetings in the morning before attending a gathering of bishops and church leaders in the Vatican. The announcement of the first American pope's surgery has sparked well-wishes worldwide, including from visitors to Rome. "We’re just hoping that his procedure goes well," said Paul Kavulich, a visitor from Chicago.

The Vatican stated that the growth on the pope's lung was found during routine tests, and Leo has no known underlying health issues. He enjoys staying active through tennis and swimming.