Pope admitted to hospital for surgery to remove lump on his lung

What the report says

Pope Leo XIV has been admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for surgery to remove a lump on his lung, after doctors found the growth during routine medical checks, according to the Vatican and remarks the pontiff made on Sunday. BBC World News reported that the 71-year-old pope said the growth was contained and detected at a very early stage, and that medical advice was to have it removed.

The Vatican said the operation was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon and would be carried out by the hospital’s thoracic surgery team. It also said an update on his condition was expected later Tuesday, while his public schedule has been cleared until 20 October to allow time for recovery. The article noted that lung nodules are common and are not necessarily cancerous, but that removed tissue is typically tested for signs of disease.

On arrival at the hospital, the pope was greeted by onlookers and staff. Vatican officials said he had no symptoms of infection or illness and appeared physically well. Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo said he had met the pope on Monday and that Leo wanted the procedure done quickly so he could still make a planned trip to Latin America in early November.

The report says the news has unsettled Catholics, even as senior Vatican figures expressed confidence in his recovery. Gemelli Hospital in Rome has treated several popes before, and the case matters because it comes ahead of an important foreign visit and follows the public disclosure of a potentially serious health issue.