Pope Leo admitted to hospital for lung nodule removal

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 12:58 · Archive

Pope Leo, 71, has been admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital for surgery to remove a small growth from his lung.

Pope Leo, 71, arrived at Rome's Gemelli hospital on Tuesday for surgery to remove a small nodule from his lung. The discovery came during a routine check-up and was announced by Leo himself during his angelus prayer on Sunday, when he said the nodule was 'well-contained' and detected early. He told crowds gathered in St Peter's Square that doctors had advised the operation and he had decided to proceed.

Leo walked into the hospital through the main entrance and waved to well-wishers. The Vatican said the surgery would be performed in the afternoon by a team led by the hospital's chief thoracic surgeon, Dr Stefano Margaritora. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, said he had seen Leo on Monday night and described him as 'truly a great example', noting that the discovery had come 'like a bolt out of the blue'.

The operation is deemed low risk and will determine whether the nodule is malignant. Oncologists quoted by the Daily Mail say that even if the nodule proves cancerous, Leo's prognosis is 'excellent' since it will have been removed at an early stage. The surgery will require a week-long hospital stay, and the Vatican has cancelled all of Leo's appointments until 20 October.

How it is being reported

• Pope Leo arrives at hospital for surgery to remove lung nodulePope Leo XIV arrived at Gemelli Hospital in Rome for lung nodule removal after doctors said the growth was identified at a "very early stage."Fox News · 13 Oct, 14:24
• Pope Leo set for surgeryPope Leo XIV arrived at a hospital in Rome on Tuesday for surgery to remove a nodule on his lung. Chris Livesay reports.CBS News · 13 Oct, 14:24
• Pope arrives in hospital ahead of surgery to have lung nodule removed todayAfter the quick drive from the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV walked into the hospital through the main entrance and waved to dozens of well-wishers who had gathered to greet him.Daily Mail · 13 Oct, 12:30
• Pope Leo admitted to hospital for operation to remove growth on lungLeo arrived at hospital on Tuesday for the surgery, which is deemed low risk and could take place this afternoon Pope Leo has been admitted to hospital in Rome for an operation to remove a small growth from his lung, a discovery a top Vatican cardinal said had come “like a bolt out of the blue”. In a rare moment of Vatican transparency, Leo, 71, said during his angelus prayer on Sunday that doctors had found a small nodule on his lung during a check-up , adding that it was “well-contained” and detected early. Continue reading...The Guardian · 13 Oct, 12:27

In this story: Pope Leo · Vatican · Rome · Gemelli hospital · Cardinal Pietro Parolin · Dr Stefano Margaritora

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem