The Vatican announced, on Tuesday, that Pope Leo (71 years old) had been admitted to the hospital to undergo surgery to remove a small mass from one of his lungs.
He explained that the surgery would take place on Tuesday afternoon, and that a statement would be issued regarding his health condition in the evening.
How serious is this surgery, and how long might the Pope need to recover from it?
Three fundamental differences between the American President and the “American Pope”
Will Algeria become a “pilgrimage” for Catholic Christians around the world?
What is the nature of the detected mass?
The Vatican's press office told reporters Monday that the mass was discovered during a routine medical examination.
These masses are known medically as "pulmonary nodules", which are small masses that form in the lung, and are benign in most cases.
According to the American Thoracic Society, less than five percent of these masses are cancerous, but the probability of developing cancer increases with age and the size of the mass, in addition to other factors, including smoking.
Skip the most read and keep reading
Most read
Most read end
These masses appear as white spots on CT scan images, because they are denser than the surrounding lung tissue. The association explains that doctors may refer to it as a “lung shadow” or “lung spot.”
How dangerous is the operation?
Dr. Federico Venuto, head of thoracic surgery at the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital in Rome, told Reuters that removing small lung masses is usually performed with minimally invasive surgery, in which doctors may use a thin tube equipped with a camera, known as a thoracoscope.
He explained that the rate of complications resulting from this surgery is "very low."
Pope Leo, who was elected in May 2025, is relatively younger than many of those who preceded him in office. He plays sports, including tennis, and is not known to smoke or suffer from major health problems in the past.
According to the Vatican, the surgery will be performed by a team specialized in thoracic surgery at the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome, led by Professor Stefano Margaritura.
How long will his recovery take?
The Vatican said that Pope Leo's recovery from surgery is expected to take about a week, while his spokesman, Matteo Bruni, explained that the Pope will remain in the hospital during this period.
The Pope will receive treatment at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, a Catholic teaching hospital affiliated with the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
The hospital includes a special wing for the popes on the tenth floor, which contains a private chapel.
Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, had received treatment in the same hospital before his death in April 2025, after suffering for a long time with health problems, including respiratory diseases.
The late Pope John Paul II also spent long periods in the hospital, until it was called "Vatican III", after the Vatican and the summer residence of the popes in Castel Gandolfo.
Will the Pope continue to travel and participate in public events?
Pope Leo canceled all of his scheduled public activities from Tuesday until October 20, before he was admitted to hospital for surgery.
The Pope had adhered to all his appointments on Monday morning, as he met with visiting bishops from Argentina, Nicaragua, Japan, Nigeria and the United States, according to a schedule published by the Vatican.
Reuters reported that the Pope spoke in a strong and clear voice during his meeting with members of a charity based in Rome, and thanked them for their work.
The Pope, who leads the Catholic Church, which includes about 1.4 billion people, was scheduled to participate in several public events this week, including a Mass in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, but the Vatican announced that Cardinal Luis Tagle would preside over the mass instead.
The Pope is also scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, on a tour extending from November 6 to 17.
It is not yet clear whether the surgery and recovery period will affect the trip, which includes traveling by plane and helicopter, and visiting high altitude areas in Peru.
The Pope confirmed, on Sunday, that he still intends to undertake this tour.
