Pope Leo XIV said doctors found a localized lung nodule. Surgery is now set for early this week.P
Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule in his lung that doctors found during recent medical checks.
Speaking to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus, the 71-year-old pontiff said the nodule was “detected at a very early stage and is well localized.” He said his doctors consider surgery appropriate and that he decided to follow their advice. He thanked people for their spiritual closeness and asked for their prayers.
Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni said the operation is scheduled for the first days of this week and that recovery is expected to take about a week. The surgery will take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, Vatican News reported.
The Vatican has described the growth only as a localized, early-stage nodule and has given no further detail about the diagnosis. A lung nodule is a small mass of dense tissue on the lung, and most are not cancerous, CNN reported. Leo is seen as relatively young and generally in good health for a pope. His predecessor, Pope Francis, died April 21, 2025, after a long hospitalization for a respiratory crisis, The Associated Press noted.
This report is based on information from Vatican News, CNN, NBC News and The Associated Press.