Pope Leo, who is in his second year of serving as a leader of the Catholic Church around the world, announced during his Sunday prayer meet that in a recent medical examination, doctors had identified a localized nodule in his lung.
The pope was also seen assuring his followers that the nodule was well localized and was detected at a very early stage. He further added that his doctors believe that the surgery is the right option and he has decided to follow their advice and undergo the recommended treatment.
The Pope, born Robert Francis Prevost, is the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter. He is the first US citizen to do so.
He was ordained in 1982 and spent the following years as a missionary in Peru, where he worked with marginalized communities and is widely remembered.
The pope also has a tour scheduled later this year, and during his Sunday's service he confirmed that his upcoming visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November will still go ahead.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, informed that the pope’s operation is scheduled for the first days of this week, and the post-operative recovery will further take an additional week.
The Holy See Press Office, which publishes official news of the activities of the Pope, has stated that the operation will take place at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
The hospital set up a special Papal suite following the failed assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II's life in May 1981, which is still in use today. The same suite will be used to accommodate Pope Leo for his operation.
According to the American Lung Association, lung nodules are small masses of dense tissues found in the lung. They can be discovered via diagnostic tests like X-ray or CT-scan.
Assessment is made using imaging findings, including their size and appearance, along with the patient's medical history and risk factors. Depending on these findings, they may recommend follow-up scans, a biopsy or surgery.
Lung nodules can be caused by scar tissue, lung irritants or air pollution. Inflammatory conditions from diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and current or past infections like tuberculosis can also cause nodule formation in the lungs.
Lung nodules can be benign or malignant, but most are non-cancerous. The Vatican has not disclosed whether Pope Leo XIV's lung nodule is cancerous. Lung cancers are usually caused by exposure to tobacco smoke and radon gas.
Physicians who are experts in lung disease use special guidelines to determine further treatment after diagnosis. And the diagnosis generally varies depending on symptoms, patient condition and lab reports.
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