Pope Leo XIV planned surgery to remove lung ‘nodule’ – what to know - BERITAJA

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to person an cognition this week to region “a localized nodule” successful his lung that was “detected astatine a very early stage.” It is the first aesculapian arena of his 17-month papacy.

The Vatican said he will beryllium admitted to Rome’s Gemelli infirmary connected Tuesday, and predicted a weeklong recovery.

Here is what is known:

A lung nodule is simply a mini abnormal area measuring little than 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) across. It is sometimes detected connected a CT scan performed to analyse different problem, specified arsenic trauma aliases a lung infection, according to the American Cancer Society.

Experts opportunity the nodule could beryllium benign aliases malignant and that punctual information is important.

If the nodule is cancerous and removed astatine an early stage, the prognosis is “excellent,” and room unsocial whitethorn beryllium capable treatment, said Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung crab master astatine Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Leo, 71, is considered different patient and physically fit, some affirmative factors for his recovery. He said the nodule was discovered during “recent aesculapian tests,” and the Vatican said Monday that nary peculiar wellness rumor prompted the check-up, describing it arsenic “routine.”

The Vatican said Leo will beryllium admitted to the infirmary connected Tuesday successful the precocious greeting and acquisition room successful the first days of this week. Oncologists who aren’t treating him said patients could often beryllium discharged aft conscionable a fewer days, to retrieve further astatine home.

The nonstop day of room wasn’t released, but Leo had a afloat slate of audiences and appointments Monday greeting and afternoon.

The pope will beryllium treated astatine Rome’s Gemelli hospital, formally known arsenic the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, a non-profit Catholic school infirmary that is portion of the Catholic Sacred Heart University.

The installation has a typical flat group up for pontiffs connected the 10th level that includes a backstage chapel. Leo’s contiguous predecessor, Pope Francis, was treated location earlier his May 2025 decease during a agelong unwellness prompted by a respiratory crisis.

St. John Paul II spent truthful overmuch clip astatine Gemelli that he called it “Vatican III,” aft the Vatican itself and the papal summertime residence astatine Castel Gandolfo.

Leo has respective activities scheduled this week.

In summation to his regular meetings, he was owed to observe a nationalist Mass connected Wednesday to adjacent a weeklong convention connected family ministry. It wasn’t known if personification other would observe the Mass.

Leo besides has a awesome travel planned Nov. 6-17 to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It is unclear whether the room and betterment will impact the eager itinerary, which includes a twelve flights, 2 chopper rides and important altitude changes successful Peru. Leo said earlier successful his remarks Sunday that he still planned to make the trip.

The Vatican has nary circumstantial rules governing who takes complete if a pope becomes wholly incapacitated. Even while unconscious during surgery, Leo remains pope and retains his authority.

Pope Francis remained successful complaint passim his lengthy hospitalizations, arsenic did St. John Paul II earlier him. Both made appointments and issued laws and statements from the hospital. A squad of officials already handles day-to-day Vatican operations.

Medical advances and popes’ longer lifespans, however, person highlighted this spread successful religion rule and prompted calls for the Vatican to hole for a pope becoming excessively sick aliases incapacitated to govern.

Two days earlier revealing his planned surgery, Leo confirmed 1 important appointment.

On Friday, he approved Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle arsenic the caller dean of the College of Cardinals. Tagle, 69, replaces Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, whose word Francis extended successful the weeks earlier his death.

The dean plays a important domiciled successful a papal transition. He presides complete the erstwhile pope’s ceremonial and helps lead the cardinals’ closed-door meetings earlier the conclave to talk the church’s early needs. If he is nether 80 erstwhile the conclave begins, he besides presides complete the concealed predetermination of a caller pope successful the Sistine Chapel.

The Vatican released a missive Leo wrote to Re connected Sunday — the time of his announcement — thanking him for his lifelong work to the church. He noted successful peculiar the domiciled that Re played successful the caller papal transition, erstwhile he celebrated Francis’ funeral.

“I do not deliberation I americium mistaken successful saying that you, Your Eminence, person been and stay 1 of the Holy See’s best-known and about esteemed servants,” Leo wrote.