Pope Leo will go into hospital on Tuesday before surgery to remove ‌a small growth found on one of his lungs, the Vatican said, as the pontiff kept up a busy schedule on Monday, holding seven previously planned meetings in the morning.

Leo, 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 nodule was found during a routine health check, the Vatican press office told journalists earlier on Monday, before confirming that the pope is expected to be hospitalised late on Tuesday morning, ahead of his surgery.

It did not say when the actual operation would take place.

A ⁠regular advisory on the pope's daily schedule, issued at noon (1000 GMT) on Monday, said he met that morning with........

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