by BILL HEANEY
Pope Leo XIV waves from the window of the car as he leaves the Vatican before being admitted to Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital.
Pope Leo was taken to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital today (Tuesday), where he will have surgery to remove a small growth on one of his lungs, in the first major health issue of his 17-month tenure.
The operation will take place this afternoon, the Vatican said in a statement.
The pope (71) said on Sunday that the growth, a small nodule, had been found on a recent check-up, was “well-contained” and had been spotted early.
The Vatican announced the timing of the surgery after Leo was seen leaving the Vatican in a convoy of vehicles headed for Gemelli Hospital, about 9km north of the Vatican.
The Vatican has said his recovery is expected to take about a week. All his public events have been cancelled until October 20th.