Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to have an operation this week to remove “a localized nodule” in his lung that was “detected at a very early stage.”
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that → schedule → stage
The Vatican said he will be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Tuesday, and predicted a weeklong recovery.
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he → say → recovery
Here is what is known:
A nodule can be benign or malignant
A lung nodule is a small abnormal area measuring less than three centimeters (about 1.2 inches) across.
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nodule → know → centimeters
It is sometimes detected on a CT scan performed to investigate another problem, such as trauma or a lung infection, according to the American Cancer Society.
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It → detect → Society
Experts say the nodule could be benign or malignant and that prompt evaluation is important.
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evaluation → say → ?
If the nodule is cancerous and removed at an early stage, the prognosis is “excellent,” and surgery alone may be sufficient treatment, said Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
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Liu → remove → Center
Leo, 71, is considered otherwise healthy and physically fit, both positive factors for his recovery.
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Leo → consider → recovery
He said the nodule was discovered during “recent medical tests,” and the Vatican said Monday that no particular health issue prompted the check-up, describing it as “routine.”
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issue → say → it
Surgery followed by a week of recovery
The Vatican said Leo will be admitted to the hospital on Tuesday in the late morning and undergo surgery in the first days of this week.
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Leo → follow → week
Oncologists who aren’t treating him said patients can often be discharged after just a few days, to recover further at home.
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patients → treat → home
The exact date of surgery wasn’t released, but Leo had a full slate of audiences and appointments Monday morning and afternoon.
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Leo → release → audiences
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The pope will be treated at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, formally known as the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, a non-profit Catholic teaching hospital that is part of the Catholic Sacred Heart University.
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that → get → University
The facility has a special apartment set up for pontiffs on the 10th floor that includes a private chapel.
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that → have → chapel
Leo’s immediate predecessor, Pope Francis, was treated there before his May 2025 death during a long illness prompted by a respiratory crisis.
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predecessor → treat → crisis
St. John Paul II spent so much time at Gemelli that he called it “Vatican III,” after the Vatican itself and the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.
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he → spend → Gandolfo
Upcoming activities and trip in question
Leo has several activities scheduled this week.
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Leo → have → activities
In addition to his regular meetings, he was due to celebrate a public Mass on Wednesday to close a weeklong conference on family ministry.
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he → celebrate → ministry
It wasn’t known if someone else would celebrate the Mass.
Leo also has a major trip planned Nov. 6-17 to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
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Leo → know → Uruguay
It is unclear whether the surgery and recovery will affect the ambitious itinerary, which includes a dozen flights, two helicopter rides and significant altitude changes in Peru.
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which → affect → Peru
Leo said earlier in his remarks Sunday that he still planned to make the trip.
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he → say → trip
Pope remains in charge, even when unconscious
The Vatican has no specific rules governing who takes over if a pope becomes totally incapacitated.
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pope → remain → rules
Even while unconscious during surgery, Leo remains pope and retains his authority.
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Leo → remain → authority
Pope Francis remained in charge throughout his lengthy hospitalizations, as did St. John Paul II before him.
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II → remain → him
Both made appointments and issued laws and statements from the hospital.
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Both → make → hospital
A team of officials already handles day-to-day Vatican operations.
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team → handle → operations
Medical advances and popes’ longer lifespans, however, have highlighted this gap in church law and prompted calls for the Vatican to prepare for a pope becoming too ill or incapacitated to govern.
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pope → highlight → calls
Two days before revealing his planned surgery, Leo confirmed one significant appointment.
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Leo → reveal → appointment
On Friday, he approved Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the new dean of the College of Cardinals.
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he → approve → Cardinals
Tagle, 69, replaces Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, whose term Francis extended in the weeks before his death.
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Francis → replace → death
The dean plays a significant role in a papal transition.
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dean → play → transition
He presides over the previous pope’s funeral and helps lead the cardinals’ closed-door meetings before the conclave to discuss the church’s future needs.
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He → preside → needs
If he is under 80 when the conclave begins, he also presides over the secret election of a new pope in the Sistine Chapel.
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he → begin → Chapel
The Vatican released a letter Leo wrote to Re on Sunday — the day of his announcement — thanking him for his lifelong service to the church.
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Leo → release → church
He noted in particular the role that Re played in the recent papal transition, when he celebrated Francis’ funeral.
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he → note → funeral
“I do not think I am mistaken in saying that you, Your Eminence, have been and remain one of the Holy See’s best-known and most esteemed servants,” Leo wrote.
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Leo → think → servants
The Aporia
