By Ghazali Ibrahim
Pope Leo XIV is set to undergo surgery this week to remove a small nodule discovered in his lung during a recent medical examination.
The 71-year-old pontiff announced the development on Sunday, October 11, while addressing pilgrims during his weekly Angelus prayer at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
He said doctors detected the nodule at a very early stage and described it as localised, adding that he had agreed to undergo surgery on their recommendation.
“Recently, during some medical examinations, doctors found a localised nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well localised,” the pope said.
He added that the operation had already been scheduled for the coming days and thanked the faithful for their spiritual support and prayers.
According to the Vatican, the procedure is expected to be followed by approximately one week of recovery. The surgery is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, although officials have not disclosed further details about the procedure.
The Vatican has not said whether the nodule is cancerous. Lung nodules are small areas of abnormal tissue that can be either benign or malignant, and further medical examination is needed to determine their nature.
The development marks the first major publicly disclosed health concern of Pope Leo XIV’s papacy, which began in May 2025.
Despite the planned surgery, the pontiff has a pastoral visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru scheduled for November 6 to 17. No change to the trip has been announced.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed support for the pope as he prepares for the procedure.
Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in the United States, became the first American pope following his election by the College of Cardinals in May 2025.
