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Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery for Lung Nodule
Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV announced he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule discovered during a recent medical examination.
Pope Leo XIV announced today that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule discovered during a recent medical examination. The pontiff made the announcement during his noon prayer at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, Oct. 11, addressing the faithful gathered there.
According to the BBC (United Kingdom), the 71-year-old pontiff said doctors discovered the nodule at a very early stage and recommended its removal. Meanwhile, Lemonde (France) reported that the surgery is already scheduled for the coming days and that the expected length of the postoperative hospital stay is about one week.
Both publications agree that the nodule was detected at an early stage and that the surgery is imminent. However, Lemonde (France) provided more specific details about the expected recovery time.
The Guardian (United Kingdom) and NBC News (United States) reported that the nodule was found during a routine medical check-up and that it is circumscribed or well-localized. Both outlets noted that the pontiff’s doctors deemed it advisable to intervene.
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (United States) and Religionnews (United States) stated that the surgery is scheduled for the first days of the coming week, with a recovery period expected to last about one week.
KOCO (United States) and WDSU (United States) reported that the pontiff will be treated at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, which has a special apartment for the pope. They also noted that the surgery is scheduled for the coming days.
The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, confirmed in a statement that the surgery is scheduled for the first days of the coming week and that the expected length of the postoperative hospital stay is about one week.
Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, explained that lung nodules are fairly common and are often benign. However, he noted that both benign and cancerous nodules can have a similar appearance on imaging.
The American Cancer Society defines a lung nodule as a small abnormal area measuring less than 1 inch that sometimes appears on a CT scan of the chest or abdomen. Often, these scans are done to investigate trauma or a lung infection, unrelated to a lung cancer screening.
Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6-17 remains in question. The pontiff said earlier in his remarks that he planned to go, but it is unclear whether the surgery and recovery will affect the itinerary.
The U.S. Catholic bishops offered their promise of prayers for the pontiff’s recovery and called on the faithful to join them.
Pope Leo XIV’s announcement comes amid health concerns that have clouded previous popes, with his predecessor, Pope Francis, spending an extended period in hospital and facing multiple health difficulties in the final months of his life.
What this adds
The announcement marks the first major health event of Pope Leo XIV’s 17-month pontificate. Gerard O’Connell, America Magazine’s senior Vatican correspondent, noted that unlike Francis, Pope Leo is younger and in good health, suggesting this shouldn’t preclude his travel plans.
Background
Pope Leo XIV announced he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule discovered during a recent medical examination.
What's confirmed
- The pontiff says doctors detected the nodule at a very early stage and have recommended surgery, which is scheduled for the coming days.
- Pope Leo XIV announced he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule discovered during a recent medical examination.
- The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery this week for a nodular lesion in his lung, with the recovery time expected to be a week.
- The 71-year-old pope said the nodule was found at an early stage and was "circumscribed" or well-localized.
- The pope has a major trip planned November 6-17 to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
- A lung nodule is a small abnormal area measuring less than 1 inch that sometimes appears on a CT scan of the chest or abdomen, according to the American Cancer Society.
- Often, the scans are done to investigate trauma or a lung infection, unrelated to a lung cancer screening.
- “Recently, during some medical tests, doctors discovered a localized nodule in my lung,” the American pontiff, 71, said during his noon prayer at St. Peter’s Square.
- “The daily bread of millions of people cannot be held hostage by war,” he said.
- It's unclear whether the planned surgery and recovery would affect the itinerary, but Leo said earlier in his remarks Sunday that he planned to go.
- Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that he would have surgery this week to remove a "localized nodule" in his lung.
- Leo told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square following his customary Sunday prayer there that doctors had found the lung nodule "at a very early stage and is well-localized."
What's still developing
- The Filipino cardinal will be responsible for organizing the closed-door meetings of cardinals ahead of the election of a new pope and, if under 80 and therefore among the cardinals stream into the Sistine Chapel, for organizing the vote itself.
- 7-14 gathering of the world’s bishops’ conference presidents and the heads of Eastern Catholic churches, marking the 10th anniversary of “Amoris Laetitia.” Pope Leo was originally scheduled to celebrate the Oct.
- Francis suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man.
- Launched in 2013, Aleteia is a free online daily news publication.
- To watch Pope Leo XIV’s video message and learn how to support the Church’s mission this World Mission Sunday, visit catholicmission.org.au/worldmissionmonth The dV5 arrives at St John of God Geelong Hospital VMCH participant Travis serves Wangaratta Lord Mayor Irene Grant and VMCH Board Chairman Julien O'Connell AO Catholic Health Australia represents the nation’s largest non-government grouping of hospitals, aged and community care services, providing approximately 10 percent of hospital and aged care services in Australia.
- “When there is sufficient concern, and when it is safe to do so based on the location of the nodule and the overall health of the patient, surgical removal can provide a definitive diagnosis,” he said in an email.
- Gerard O’Connell is America ’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History.
- “Unlike Francis, Pope Leo is younger; he’s in good health, he plays sports, so I think this shouldn’t preclude the trip,” she said.
- According to ANSA, the main Italian news agency, Vatican sources (not named) suggested that the surgery was likely moved up precisely to avoid having to cancel the trip.
- 11, when greeting thousands of Romans and pilgrims from many countries from the papal study window on the third floor of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.