Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, has reportedly been hospitalized in Rome after medical examinations revealed a small pulmonary nodule. The 71-year-old pontiff is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the growth early this week. According to statements attributed to the pontiff during his Sunday public address, the nodule was allegedly detected at an early stage and is clearly localized.

Pope Leo XIV announced the upcoming medical procedure during his traditional midday blessing in St. Peter's Square. He thanked the gathered crowds for their support and requested their prayers. The pontiff claimed that medical professionals strongly recommended the surgical intervention, and he supposedly decided to follow their professional advice.

The surgery is planned to take place at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome. According to Matteo Bruni, the head of the Holy See press office, the recovery period following the medical procedure is expected to last approximately seven days. Consequently, all official audiences have been cancelled through Tuesday, October 20.

Medical experts note that a pulmonary nodule is a small area of altered tissue measuring less than three centimeters, which is typically detected via computed tomography. According to health organizations, such formations are frequently found incidentally during examinations performed for entirely unrelated reasons, and the mere presence of a nodule does not automatically indicate cancer.

Despite the upcoming surgery, the pontiff allegedly intends to proceed with a planned international tour across South America. From November 6 to 17, he is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Peru, and Argentina. Previously, no major health issues had been officially reported concerning Pope Leo XIV, who has maintained a reputation for a relatively active lifestyle.

Source: podrobno.uz