Pope Leo XIV has been admitted to a hospital in Rome, Italy, for an operation to remove a small growth from his lung after doctors discovered the abnormality during a medical check-up.
The 71-year-old pontiff announced the discovery during his Angelus prayer on Sunday, telling worshippers gathered at St Peter’s Square that doctors had found a small nodule in his lung. He said it was “well-contained” and had been detected early.
“The doctors believe it would be right to intervene and so, following their advice, I have decided to have the operation to remove it,” he said.
Leo, who became the first US-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church in May 2025, is receiving treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where a crowd gathered to welcome him on Tuesday.
Although the Vatican has not announced the exact time of the operation, Italian media reports indicate that the procedure could take place on Tuesday afternoon.
All the pope’s scheduled engagements have been cancelled until October 20.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who visited Leo on Monday night, said the pontiff remained calm following the announcement of his medical condition.
“We spoke with great serenity,” Parolin told Rai News.
“He is truly a great example. The announcement came like a bolt out of the blue, nobody expected it. Thank God it was detected immediately, so the operation could take place immediately. Normally, when these things are caught in time, they can be resolved.”
The procedure is considered low-risk and is expected to help doctors establish whether the lung nodule is malignant.
The pope will stay in the hospital’s 10-storey private-patient wing rather than the papal suite, which is currently undergoing renovation.
Born in Chicago, United States, Leo is generally considered to be in good health and is known to enjoy sports, particularly tennis.
He also frequently visits the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.
The pontiff travelled to France on an official visit in September and is scheduled to embark on a 12-day trip to South America in November, during which he is expected to visit 10 cities.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s weekly papal audience will be led by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, who was elected dean of the College of Cardinals last week.
The body plays a central role in the process of electing a new pope.
Gemelli Hospital, located in north-western Rome, has a long history of treating popes.
The Vatican previously worked with the facility to establish a high-security papal suite following repeated visits by Pope John Paul II.
Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, spent more than five weeks at the hospital while receiving treatment for bronchitis that developed into bilateral pneumonia.
He died at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City, on April 21, 2025, less than a month after leaving the hospital.
