Pope Leo XIV is preparing to undergo lung surgery on Tuesday, Oct. 13, following the discovery of a small nodule during routine medical examinations, prompting prayers for the Holy Father’s health and adjustments to several important Vatican events.
The 71-year-old pontiff is expected to enter Rome’s Gemelli Hospital late Tuesday morning, where doctors will remove what the Vatican has described as a “small, localized nodule” in his lung.
According to Vatican News, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the abnormality was discovered during routine medical examinations. Pope Leo publicly revealed his upcoming surgery during Sunday’s Angelus, explaining that he had decided to follow the recommendations of his medical team.
“The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it,” the Pope said in a statement shared Sunday, as reported by ABC News.
“The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers.”
The announcement has drawn messages of support from religious communities and political leaders across five continents, as Catholics prepare for a period of uncertainty surrounding the Holy Father’s recovery.
What Doctors Know About the Pope’s Condition
Although the Vatican has confirmed the presence of a lung nodule, officials have not disclosed its underlying cause or provided further details about the medical findings.
According to ABC News, pulmonary nodules are small masses of dense tissue that develop within the lungs. The American Lung Association explains that these abnormalities can result from several conditions, including previous infections, inflammation, scar tissue, or, in some cases, cancer.
Importantly, most lung nodules are benign, meaning they are not cancerous.
Doctors typically evaluate these abnormalities through medical imaging and determine whether continued observation, medication, or surgical removal is appropriate.
The Vatican has not indicated whether the Pope’s nodule is benign or malignant, and no diagnosis beyond the discovery of the localized nodule has been announced.
Despite the seriousness of any surgical procedure, one medical expert has expressed optimism about the Pope’s prospects for recovery.
Dr. Samuel Kim, a professor of surgery at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, told ABC News affiliate WLS that the pontiff’s active lifestyle and overall health offer encouraging signs.
“The pope should be able to have the operation pretty well and recover. So, I’m very optimistic about the prognosis for our pope,” Kim said.
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately one week following the operation.
Vatican Schedule Changes as the Pope Prepares for Surgery
The upcoming hospitalization has already required adjustments to the Pope’s official responsibilities, particularly those associated with a Vatican gathering commemorating the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia.
Although Pope Leo continued with his scheduled Monday morning audiences, he will be unable to participate in the meeting’s afternoon session or preside over a special Mass planned for Wednesday, October 14, in St. Peter’s Square.
According to Vatican News, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been entrusted with presiding over the celebration in the Pope’s absence.
The Mass will bring together Church leaders, representatives of Eastern Catholic Churches, bishops’ conference presidents, married couples, and experts participating in the gathering.
Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa, who is helping oversee the meeting, emphasized that the celebration will provide an opportunity for the faithful to remember the Holy Father in prayer.
“During the Mass, we will pray especially for the Holy Father’s health, as well as for families,” Father Costa said, according to Vatican News.
Pope Leo Remains Committed to the Church’s Work
Even as he prepares for surgery and recovery, Pope Leo has expressed his desire to remain engaged with the discussions taking place during the Amoris laetitia anniversary gathering.
According to Vatican News, the Pope had originally intended to hear the meeting’s conclusions and offer his reflections directly to participants.
With his hospitalization preventing that exchange, he has requested that the gathering’s final report not be published immediately.
Instead, Pope Leo wishes to review the conclusions and accompanying materials after his discharge, allowing him to consider the participants’ contributions before offering his response.
Father Costa welcomed the decision as a reflection of the Pope’s commitment to listening to the Church.
“I think this desire of his to listen is beautiful,” he said, according to Vatican News.
The arrangement allows the gathering to continue while preserving the Holy Father’s opportunity to contribute to its conclusions once he has recovered.
A Moment of Prayer for the Holy Father
For Catholics around the world, the announcement is a reminder that even the successor of St. Peter must face the physical vulnerabilities and uncertainties of human life.
While medical professionals prepare to care for Pope Leo, the faithful are being invited to accompany him spiritually through prayer.
The Pope himself has expressed gratitude for the support he has received and has specifically asked for prayers as he approaches surgery.
As the Church awaits further information about the operation and his recovery, Catholics can unite in asking the Lord to guide his medical team, grant him healing, and strengthen him for the responsibilities of his ministry.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick, intercede for Pope Leo XIV, and may God grant the Holy Father a successful surgery, a peaceful recovery, and renewed strength to continue shepherding the universal Church.
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