Pope Leo XIV has announced he will undergo surgery to remove a nodule found on his lung during a recent medical checkup. The 71-year-old pontiff made the announcement during his weekly Sunday noon blessing in St Peter's Square in Rome.
"Doctors found a small, localised nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is circumscribed. The doctors believe it's best to take action, so, following their advice, I've decided to have surgery to remove it," Leo told the crowd gathered for the Angelus prayer.
"The surgery is already scheduled for the coming days. Thank you for your spiritual support, and I entrust myself to your prayers," he added.
The Holy See Press Office confirmed the operation is scheduled for the first days of the coming week, with an expected recovery time of approximately one week. The surgery will take place at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where previous popes have also been treated and where a dedicated papal suite has been maintained since the failed assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in May 1981.
Leo reassured those present that the nodule was caught at an early stage and was well contained. He is reported to have no previously known health problems and is considered physically active, with regular tennis games and swimming at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her personal solidarity with the Pope as he "faces this challenge in the coming days," adding that "the serenity and calm with which he spoke about it" were reassuring. Italian President Sergio Mattarella offered his "sincerest wishes for a peaceful recovery and a speedy and full return to health." Israeli President Isaac Herzog also wished the pontiff "a full and speedy recovery."
Despite the upcoming procedure, Leo confirmed during Sunday's address that his planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, scheduled for 6 to 17 November, will still go ahead. The Archbishop of Montevideo, Daniel Sturla, said preparations for the visit would continue with "greater enthusiasm" and called for prayers for the Pope's recovery.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Provost, succeeded Pope Francis in 2025 and is the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter. He is the first American to hold the position. He was ordained in 1982 and spent years as a missionary in Peru, where he worked with marginalised communities.
His predecessor, Pope Francis, died on 21 April 2025 following a stroke after a prolonged hospitalisation caused by a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. Francis had suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man.
A lung nodule is a small abnormal area of tissue, typically measuring less than 3 centimetres, that is usually detected during an X-ray or CT scan of the chest. Most nodules do not cause other symptoms.
