Pope Leo XIV Undergoes Surgery for Lung Nodule

Pope Leo XIV was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Tuesday for surgery to remove a lung nodule. The operation is expected to determine if the lesion is malignant and if further treatment will be necessary. The 71-year-old American pontiff arrived at the hospital and waved to well-wishers gathered to greet him.

The Vatican announced that the surgery would be performed by a team led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli's chief thoracic surgeon. Pope Leo XIV disclosed the discovery of the small nodule during his Sunday noon prayer, opting for a transparent approach to his first publicly acknowledged significant health issue during his 17-month papacy.

Oncologists have indicated that even if the nodule proves to be cancerous, the pope's prognosis is considered excellent due to the early stage of detection and removal. The procedure, typically performed under general anesthesia, is expected to require a week-long hospital stay. The Vatican has canceled all audiences for Pope Leo XIV through October 20.

Dr. Lorenzo Spaggiari, director of thoracic surgery at the European Institute of Oncology, who is not involved in the pope's care, stated that the lesion is likely to be biopsied to check for cancer, followed by the removal of the affected section of the lung. He noted that advanced robotic techniques could be employed for both diagnosis and surgery, potentially completing both procedures consecutively under a single anesthesia. Such minimally invasive techniques involve small incisions and surgeon-controlled robotic arms.

Dr. Spaggiari highlighted that the risk of biopsy is minimal, and surgical risks are very low for a patient in good health. He added that if lymph nodes removed during the operation are negative for cancer, indicating Stage One, the pope's outlook would be very good, likely negating the need for further treatment.

Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu of Tokyo, who met with Pope Leo XIV on Monday, reported that the pontiff felt fine and decided to proceed with the surgery promptly to avoid disrupting his upcoming travel plans to Latin America. The pope is scheduled to travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to November 17. This trip is planned to be the longest of his papacy.

A lung nodule is defined as a small abnormal area, less than 3 centimeters in diameter, that may appear on chest scans. These nodules can be benign or malignant, and surgical removal is often recommended to confirm their nature and treat any malignancy while still localized. The Vatican press office mentioned that while Gemelli has a specific papal apartment, Pope Leo XIV will be staying in a regular room as the papal suite is currently under renovation.