Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to undergo surgery this week to remove what the Vatican described as "a localized nodule" in his lung that was "detected at a very early stage." The procedure marks the first medical event of his 17-month papacy.
The pontiff, 71, will be admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Tuesday, with the Vatican predicting a weeklong recovery period.
A lung nodule is a small abnormal area measuring less than 3 centimeters, or about 1.2 inches, across. According to the American Cancer Society, such nodules are sometimes detected on CT scans performed to investigate other issues, including trauma or lung infection.
Medical experts note that a nodule could be either benign or malignant, and that prompt evaluation is important. Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, said that if the nodule is cancerous and removed at an early stage, the prognosis is "excellent," and surgery alone may be sufficient treatment.
Pope Leo is considered otherwise healthy and physically fit, factors that medical professionals view as positive for surgical outcomes.