Pope Leo in Rome hospital for lung surgery

BREAKING: Pope Leo XIV has been admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital to undergo surgery to remove a nodule from his lung and determine if it is cancerous, in the first major health issue of his papacy.

Pope Leo XIV is in hospital this morning for lung surgery.

The Vatican has confirmed the 71 year old pontiff was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital, the place that's treated popes for decades, to have a nodule removed from his lung. Doctors need to find out whether it's cancerous. He'll be under general anesthesia, and he's looking at a week in that hospital bed. Every engagement is cancelled through October 20.

What's striking is how we found out. Leo told thousands of worshippers himself, in St. Peter's Square on Sunday. No vague Vatican communiqué, no fog. That's a real break from how this institution has handled papal health for generations, and seventeen months into his papacy, it says something about the man.

Oncologists say if the nodule is malignant, catching it this early means an excellent prognosis. And the Vatican still expects him in South America come November.

This is Liu Yang, reporting for HIT.