Pope Leo XIV’s first hospitalization as pontiff began with a troubling discovery during routine medical tests — an abnormality doctors believed needed to be removed.Days later, the 71-year-old, the first American pope in history, was recovering on the 10th floor of a Rome hospital after surgeons performed a 90-minute operation.Although the procedure went according to plan, one crucial question remained unanswered: What exactly had doctors found?The answer finally emerged following surgery on Tuesday, October 13. But before revealing the findings, the Vatican issued an update on the pontiff’s condition as concerns mounted over his health.

Leo first revealed his unexpected medical ordeal on Sunday, October 11, 2026, while addressing crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Doctors had discovered a “nodule” on his lung and recommended that it be surgically removed.According to the Vatican press office, the abnormality was detected during “routine tests.” Leo described the growth as “well-contained” and said doctors had caught it “at a very early stage.”But the Vatican offered no further details about the nodule, leaving its exact nature unclear. The discovery was particularly concerning because Leo, 71, had no known underlying health problems.