Pope Leo lung surgery is planned within days after the 71-year-old pontiff told pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, Oct. 11, that doctors found a small nodule at a very early stage. He will be treated at Gemelli Hospital in Rome and is expected to stay about a week, the Vatican said.
What did the pope say about the lung nodule?
Pope Leo said doctors found "a small lump in the lung" and identified it at a very early stage, adding that it was well situated. Following their advice, he decided to have surgery to remove it, with the operation scheduled for the next few days. He thanked the faithful for their spiritual closeness and asked for their prayers.
When is the Pope Leo lung surgery?
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope is expected to remain hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital in Rome for about one week. The Vatican has not disclosed whether the nodule is cancerous, and no further details about the diagnosis or procedure were immediately available. The surgery is expected within the next few days at the Rome hospital known as the pope's hospital.
Will the surgery affect his November trip?
Pope Leo is scheduled to travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17, a major international trip planned before the diagnosis. It remains unclear whether the Pope Leo lung surgery and his recovery will change those plans. The Vatican has not said whether the trip will proceed as planned.
In the same Sunday address, the pope renewed his appeal for peace in Ukraine, warning that the war causes suffering beyond its borders, especially in poorer countries that depend on grain exports. He urged all involved to guarantee safe transport of grain through the Black Sea.
