Pope Leo the Fourteenth is to be admitted to hospital on Tuesday for surgery to remove a small growth in his lung, the Vatican has announced.
The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed on Sunday that he would undergo an operation in the coming days after doctors discovered a pulmonary nodule during recent medical checks.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told AFP on Monday that the Pope would be admitted to hospital late Tuesday morning. His recovery is expected to take about a week.
The operation is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, which has a dedicated medical suite for the Pope.
Pope Leo, who became head of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, said the growth was detected at an early stage. He added that he decided to proceed with the operation on the advice of his doctors.
READ ALSO:Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace, Dignity During Meeting With Migrants
The hospitalisation will mark his first since becoming head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
