- Pope Leo XIV is recovering after successfully undergoing scheduled surgery at Rome 's Gemelli hospital to remove a localized lung nodule.
- Medical experts noted that the 71-year-old pontiff's prognosis remains excellent because the early-stage nodule was discovered during a routine exam.
- All papal audiences have been canceled through October 20 to accommodate an expected weeklong hospital stay for recovery.
- Medical personnel gathered in the hospital chapel to recite the Rosary during the operation, which was conducted by chief thoracic surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora.
- This operation marks the second major hospitalization of the pope's life, following a severe case of typhoid fever while serving as a missionary in Peru in 1985.
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