Pope Leo says he will undergo surgery for small growth on lung
Pope Leo said on Sunday that doctors found a small growth on his lung and that he will have it removed in surgery this week. It is the first health scare of the 71-year-old pontiff's tenure.
Pope Leo announced on Sunday, 11 October, that doctors had detected a small growth on his lung during a recent health check. The 71-year-old pontiff said he would have surgery this week to remove it. The news matters because it is the first time concerns over the health of the head of the Roman Catholic Church have arisen during his tenure.
What is known
According to the source, the growth was found during a health check carried out recently. The pope said it would be removed surgically, with the operation due to take place this week. The source does not say what kind of growth it is, on which day the operation will happen or where it will be carried out.
Wider context
The broadcaster France 24 discussed the development in a video segment with its correspondent Seema Gupta. The source stresses that this is the first health scare to become public since Leo took up the papacy.
No further details about the procedure or the pope's condition have been made public so far.
