Pope Leon has been laid down at Rome's Gemmel Hospital to undergo surgery after the discovery of a jaw in the lungs, a development that has attracted international attention to his state of health.
According to Reuters agency, the 71-year-old Pope is expected to operate on Tuesday, October 13th, to remove the formation uncovered during a recent medical examination.
The Vatican has made it known that the nodul has been identified at an early stage and considered to be located, but has not yet been publicly defined if it comes to a joint or mountain formation.
The operation will be directed by Professor Stefano Margaritora, a Tooracal surgeon, while results of further examinations will determine whether the Pope needs additional treatment.
According to Reuters, Pope Leon was in good spirits before hospitalization and had continued his official activities during Monday.
However, all public commitments have been cancelled by October 20th to enable post-immunication recovery.
Doctors expect him to stay in the hospital for about a week.
The discovery of a jaw in the lungs does not necessarily mean the presence of cancer. According to medical experts, such formations may be non-skilled, while their assessment depends on size, looks on radiological examinations and test results.
Pope Leon, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, was elected to the head of the Catholic Church in May 2025.
He had not reported major health problems in recent months and had held an active dating and travel calendar.
The intervention comes ahead of a planned visit to South America during November, while it remains unclear whether the recovery period will affect the trip.
The Vatican is expected to publish further information on the pope's situation after the operation.
