Pope Leo XIV returns to hospital room after successful lung surgery in Rome

Pope Leo XIV successfully underwent surgery to remove a nodule in his lung on October 13 at Gemelli hospital in Rome and returned to his room, according to reports citing the Holy See's press office. The operation was completed within the planned timeframe and as expected, the Vatican statement said. RIA Novosti reported that further information would be published later. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]

The pope's recovery is expected to take about a week, Interfax and Kommersant reported. Vedomosti cited Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni as saying his postoperative hospital stay would last about a week. The Vatican cancelled all of Leo XIV's public audiences until October 20 to allow his recovery, according to Vedomosti. His participation in the Angelus prayer on October 18 remained uncertain. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]

Leo XIV travelled to Gemelli on Tuesday for the operation, RIA Novosti reported. Vedomosti said his personal physician, Luigi Carbone, accompanied him. That outlet reported, citing RaiNews, that Stefano Margaritora, who heads the hospital's thoracic surgery department, was expected to perform the operation. It also said papal apartments on the tenth floor and an operating room had been prepared at the hospital. [ 1 , 5 ]

The pope announced the forthcoming operation on October 11 after the traditional prayer in St Peter's Square, Vedomosti reported. He said doctors had recommended removing the growth surgically. RIA Novosti reported that Leo XIV had told worshippers the lung nodule was detected at an early stage and that he decided to undergo surgery on his doctors' advice. Kommersant reported that the pontiff is 71. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]