Pope Leo's lung nodule surgery completed successfully, Vatican says
Pope Leo XIV underwent a successful surgery Tuesday to remove a lung nodule, according to the Vatican.
Key points
- Pope Leo XIV had successful surgery Tuesday to remove a lung nodule at Rome's Gemelli hospital.
- The 71-year-old pope disclosed the nodule Sunday and will recover about a week in hospital.
- All papal audiences through Oct. 20 were canceled; a November trip to South America is planned.
Pope Leo XIV underwent successful surgery Tuesday to remove a lung nodule, the Vatican said. The Holy See Press Office said the procedure was completed successfully, within the expected timeframe and as planned, and that the pope had returned to his room. It promised more information later.
The 71-year-old American pontiff walked into Rome's Gemelli hospital through the main entrance earlier Tuesday and waved to well-wishers gathered outside. The Vatican said the operation was performed by a team led by Gemelli's chief thoracic surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora.
Prayers and transparency
Medical staff recited the Rosary in the hospital chapel as the operation got underway Tuesday evening. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Vicar of Rome, said at the start of the prayer, "Let us join together in prayer."
The Vatican said the nodule was found during regular checks and it is not known if it is cancerous. Doctors say this kind of lung nodule is usually benign, and oncologists say that even if it were cancerous, Leo's prognosis is "excellent" because it would have been removed at an early stage.
The procedure was completed successfully, within the expected timeframe and as planned, and the Holy Father has returned to his room.
— the Holy See Press Office
Recovery and upcoming trip
The surgery, described as fairly low risk and usually done under general anesthesia, requires a weeklong recovery at the hospital, the Vatican said. All of Leo's audiences through Oct. 20 were canceled.
The procedure comes weeks before a scheduled early-November trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, the longest of his papacy, with just over 19,000 miles on a dozen flights and two helicopter rides. Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu of Tokyo, who saw Leo on Monday, said the pope chose surgery soon so as not to change his travel plans, adding there is no need to worry because it is not an emergency.
