Pope Leo XIV, 71, To Be Hospitalized Tomorrow for Lung Nodule Surgery: Symptoms You Should Know

If you’ve ever heard the words “lung nodule” from a doctor—or worried about someone who has—the latest news about Pope Leo XIV’s surgery may hit close to home. The 71-year-old pontiff announced over the weekend that he’ll undergo surgery to remove a recently discovered nodule in his lung, and his health update is a reminder that even small health findings deserve attention. We’re revealing the latest on Pope Leo’s health, his upcoming surgery and when you should worry about lung nodules.

What we know about Pope Leo’s lung nodule surgery

“It was detected at a very early stage and is well-defined,” Pope Leo said of his lung nodule outside St. Peter’s Square on October 11, according to CNN. “The doctors deem it advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it.”

Pope Leo will be admitted to the hospital late tomorrow morning, October 12, ahead of his lung nodule surgery, and the Vatican will continue to function as usual while he recovers. According to AP News, the Vatican press office announced today that Pope Leo’s surgery will require a weeklong recovery in the hospital. The Vatican also noted that there were no particular issues that prompted the tests that discovered Pope Leo’s lung nodule.

Leo was named the new pontiff in May 2025 after a conclave of international cardinals voted on Pope Francis’ successor—Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88—making Leo the first American-born pope in the church’s history. For many women following this story, the pope’s health update sparks a familiar question: What exactly is a lung nodule, and when should you worry about one?

Wellness

Barry Manilow, 82, on His Lung Cancer: ‘There’s No Symptoms for What I Had'

Barry Manilow’s ’70s and ’80s hits have stood the test of time, continuing to resurface in social media videos from TikTok to Instagram. Recently, Manilow, 82, made headlines again after opening up about his lung cancer diagnosis, which he first revealed in an Instagram statement about his health in December 2025. Here’s a closer look […]

What is a lung nodule?

Think of a lung nodule as a tiny spot the doctor sees on an imaging test. “A lung nodule is a small, solid, rounded mass of tissue in the lungs that can be seen on a chest computed tomography (CT) scan or X-ray as a white spot,” explains Samir Shah, MD, an interventional radiologist and Chief Medical Officer at Qure.ai.

Pulmonary nodules usually form when a bacterial or viral infection irritates the lung tissue, creating a small clump of cells called a granuloma. They can also develop from air pollution, fungal infections and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

The reassuring news: About 95 percent of lung nodules are benign, or noncancerous. Still, they shouldn’t be ignored. “One of our most important jobs is figuring out which nodules require further attention and which ones don’t,” says Scott Oh, DO, co-director of UCLA interventional pulmonology and clinical professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Do lung nodules cause symptoms?

Usually, no—and that’s exactly why they often come as a surprise. Studies show 95 percent of lung nodules are completely asymptomatic.

“If [a nodule] is large and close enough to an airway to block it off, a patient might experience shortness of breath or a cough,” says Steven Davis, MD, associate professor of internal medicine at the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU. “And if it’s related to active pneumonia, symptoms could include fever, chills and a cough or shortness of breath.” Those situations, Dr. Davis notes, are the exception rather than the rule.

Because they so rarely cause symptoms, lung nodules are often spotted by accident “when medical imaging is done for other reasons,” Dr. Shah says. A chest X-ray or CT scan ordered for pneumonia, a pre-surgical workup or another concern can reveal that small white spot.

Dr. Davis adds that CT scans tend to be more effective than X-rays at identifying nodules, because they produce higher-resolution images that can detect nodules of all sizes. X-rays, by contrast, usually pick up only larger ones.

When to worry about lung nodules

Most lung nodules benefit from a “wait and watch” approach, according to Dr. Oh. Routine monitoring with CT scans can check for growth or other changes that might signal cancer.

Certain risk factors call for closer attention. “For example, a patient in their 60s with a history of smoking-related emphysema and a first-degree relative with lung cancer is at higher risk than someone in their 20s who has never smoked,” Dr. Oh explains. “Several [other] factors can [also] confer a higher level of concern, including the size, density and borders of the lung nodule, its location and if it changes over time.”

If you have a history of lung disease, your healthcare provider may order bloodwork or a lung biopsy to clarify your risk and guide treatment.

Wellness

MD Reveals When To Worry About Thyroid Nodules and What Causes Them

You’re fiddling with a necklace when suddenly you notice a lump near the base of your throat. Or perhaps you’re yawning and a friend spots a swollen spot on your neck. What gives? Although they can be alarming at first, thyroid nodules are fairly common and typically benign. Here we’ll walk you through what causes […]

How to protect your lung health

Deal of the Day

This Deep Conditioning Collagen Hair Mask for Has 4.9 Stars and Is 80% Off — Get It for $20! View Deal

There’s no surefire way to prevent lung nodules like the one affecting Pope Leo, but you can care for your respiratory health in a few meaningful ways:

• If you smoke, work on quitting.
• Limit exposure to air pollution and infections.
• Stay current on your vaccines.
• Wear an N-95 mask in crowded places or when air quality is poor if you’re sensitive to lung inflammation.

A lung cancer screening can be lifesaving too. Dr. Oh notes the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening if you are 50 to 80 years old, have a 20 pack-year smoking history (one pack per day for 20 years, or two packs per day for 10 years) and currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years.

The bottom line on lung nodules

“Finding lung nodules, figuring out which ones are cancer and getting them treated as early as possible are critical to improving lung cancer outcomes,” Dr. Oh stresses. “Please get screened if you qualify, and if you have a nodule that is incidentally detected, get it evaluated.”