Key facts
- Pope Leo, 71, had surgery Tuesday to remove a lung nodule.
- The Vatican announced the surgery went well and as expected.
- The nodule was discovered early during a recent check-up.
- Recovery is expected to take approximately one week.
- Pope Leo's public events are canceled through Oct. 20.
Pope Leo, 71, underwent surgery on Tuesday afternoon to remove a small nodule from his lung, the Vatican announced. The procedure, performed at Rome's Gemelli hospital, went well and as expected, according to a Vatican statement. The nodule was discovered early during a recent check-up, and the pontiff said it was well-situated.
The Vatican press office expects the pope's recovery to take about a week. All of his public events have been canceled through Oct. 20. His planned international trip to South America from Nov. 6-17 is still on the schedule, though this may be reassessed based on his recovery.
Pope Leo, the first pontiff born in the United States, was elected in May 2025. He has no previously known significant health problems and maintains an active lifestyle, including playing tennis and swimming. The surgery marks the first major health issue of his 17-month papacy. The Vatican has not disclosed whether the growth is cancerous.