Pope Leo will have surgery at Rome's Gemelli hospital on Tuesday afternoon (October 13) to remove a small growth on one of his lungs, in the first major health issue of his 17-month tenure.

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

The Vatican confirmed the timing of the surgery after Leo was seen leaving the Vatican in a convoy of vehicles headed for Gemelli hospital, about 9 km (5.6 miles) north of the Vatican.

The Vatican has said his recovery is expected to take about a week. All his public events have been cancelled until October 20.

Leo, elected by the world's cardinals in May 2025, is relatively young for a church leader. He enjoys sports, including tennis, and is not known to be a smoker or to have had health issues previously.

A nodule on the lung is a small, localized lesion that can be benign. The American Thoracic Society says fewer than 5% of lung nodules overall prove cancerous, although risk rises with age, size, and other factors such as smoking.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ROME, ITALY (OCTOBER 13, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. POPE LEO LEAVING VATICAN HEADING TO ROME'S GEMELLI HOSPITAL

2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE HOSPITAL

3. CAR CARRYING POPE ARRIVING / POPE GETTING OUT OF CAR, SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE, ENTERING HOSPITAL

4. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES