Pope Leo maintained his regular busy schedule on Monday (October 12) as he awaits surgery to remove a small growth found on one of his lungs, holding seven previously planned meetings in the morning, the Vatican said.

The pontiff is expected to go into hospital on Tuesday (October 13) morning as he prepares for surgery to remove a nodule on one of his lungs.

Leo, 71, said on Sunday (October 11) that the growth - a small nodule - had been found during recent check-up, but was "well-contained" and had been spotted early.

The Vatican did not confirm when the surgery would take place.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: POPE LEO MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE 'CIRCOLO DI SAN PIETRO', AN ORGANISATION IN ROME THAT DEALS WITH VULNERABLE PEOPLE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: VATICAN CITY (OCTOBER 12, 2026) (VATICAN MEDIA - Access all)

1. MOBILE PHONE SHOWING POPE LEO ARRIVING FOR AUDIENCE

2. POPE ARRIVING FOR AUDIENCE

3. GIRL LOOKING ON

4. POPE ARRIVING FOR AUDIENCE

5. PEOPLE LOOKING ON

6. POPE GIVING BLESSING

7. PEOPLE LISTENING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO, SAYING:

"Reflecting on the three pillars of your charism, prayer, action and sacrifice, today I would like to leave you with a single word, one that brings them together in perfect harmony: charity."

9. PEOPLE LISTENING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO, SAYING:

"Prayer, in fact, becomes effective when it is directed toward others. The charity generated by the Holy Spirit is God's love poured into our hearts, a love that becomes a commitment in life and service."

11. PEOPLE LISTENING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO, SAYING:

"Your devotion is always with me, because I also always carry with me the gift you gave me at the time of my election, and I sincerely thank you for it."

13. POPE PRAYING

14. PEOPLE PRAYING

15. POPE GIVING BLESSING