Pope Leo to enter hospital on Tuesday for surgery on lung nodule

Pope Leo was due to be hospitalised in Rome on Tuesday ahead of surgery to remove a small growth on one of his lungs, in the first major health issue of his 17-month tenure.



Leo, 71, said on Sunday that a small nodule had been found on a check-up, was "well-contained" and had been spotted early.



He was expected to leave the Vatican for Rome's Gemelli hospital late morning, the Vatican press office said, without specifying when the actual operation would take place.



Leo, elected by the world's cardinals in May 2025, is relatively young for a Church leader. He enjoys sports, including tennis, and is not known to be a smoker or to have had health issues previously.



The Vatican has said his recovery is expected to take about a week. All his public events have been cancelled until October 20.



Leo, who spoke in a firm, clear voice at his only public event on Monday, keeps a very busy schedule. He is due to make an 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.



In the same address on Sunday when the pope announced his need for surgery, Leo pledged he would go forward with the trip.