ROME, Oct 13 (Reuters) – Pope Leo’s lung surgery, which took place on Tuesday, was completed successfully, according to a statement from the Vatican. The procedure involved the removal of a small growth on the pontiff’s lung and was performed at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.
The surgery lasted approximately seven hours and was conducted by Professor Stefano Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at the Gemelli. Leo, 71, had been admitted to the hospital after a recent medical check-up revealed the nodule.
The Vatican’s statement confirmed that the operation proceeded as planned but did not disclose any additional details regarding the growth or any subsequent tests performed. Medical experts noted that the procedure is typically minimally invasive, often involving tools such as a thoracoscope. Dr. Federico Venuto, chief of thoracic surgery at Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, stated that the complication rate for such surgeries is generally very low.
The Vatican announced that Pope Leo is expected to recover in the hospital for about a week, prompting the cancellation of all public events until October 20. Despite this, the Pope indicated he intends to proceed with a planned 11-day tour of South America, covering Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to 17.
Pope Leo, who was elected in May 2025, is considered relatively young for a pontiff and enjoys an active lifestyle, including tennis. He does not have a history of smoking or serious health problems. A lung nodule is a small, localized lesion, and according to the American Thoracic Society, fewer than 5% of such nodules are cancerous, with risk factors including age, size of the nodule, and smoking history.
Prior to becoming pope, Leo, originally named Robert Prevost and born in Chicago in 1955, served as a missionary and bishop in Peru. He faced health challenges early in his career when he contracted typhoid fever while serving as a young priest.
While the Pope does not have a designated deputy to assume his duties during illness, the Vatican’s operations typically continue as usual, postponing decisions that require papal approval.
For the time being, the pope’s suite at Gemelli, traditionally reserved for papal treatments, is undergoing renovations, adding further considerations to his recovery plans.
