Pope Leo XIV Schedules Surgery This Week to Remove Early-Stage Lung Nodule

Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday, October 11, 2026, that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule on his lung. The 71-year-old American pontiff made the statement himself during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square.

"During some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung," Leo said. "It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days."

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the procedure is set for the first days of the week at Rome's Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital. Recovery is expected to take about one week. The Vatican will continue normal operations during that period, though decisions requiring the pope's signature will be held.

A lung nodule is a small mass of dense tissue. Most are non-cancerous. The American Thoracic Society notes that fewer than 5 percent of lung nodules overall prove malignant, though risk rises with age, size and other factors. The Vatican has not said whether the nodule is believed to be cancerous. Doctors recommended removal because it was found early and is well-contained.

This is the first major health event of Leo's 17-month pontificate. He was elected in May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis. Leo has maintained an active schedule, plays tennis and has no previously known health problems. He is younger than most recent popes. Francis was 76 when elected; Benedict XVI was 78.

Leo used the public occasion of the Angelus to deliver the news directly, rather than through a statement. He thanked those present for their spiritual closeness and asked for their prayers. The crowd in the square applauded after he spoke.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and the Italian Bishops' Conference were among the first to send wishes for a swift recovery. The pope has a trip planned for November 6-17 to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It is not yet clear whether the surgery and recovery will alter that itinerary. Leo had said earlier in his remarks that he still intended to travel.

Gemelli Hospital has treated popes for decades. It has a dedicated apartment for pontiffs. Francis underwent several procedures there in his final years. John Paul II was also a frequent patient.

Leo's announcement came on the same day he renewed calls for peace in Ukraine during the Angelus. The surgery does not appear linked to any acute illness. The Vatican described the nodule as localized and early-stage.

Medical experts outside the Vatican noted that early removal of such nodules often carries a good prognosis if they turn out to be malignant. Surgery alone can be sufficient treatment in many early cases. No further details on the planned procedure, such as whether it will be minimally invasive, have been released.

The pontiff's decision to speak openly about the finding contrasts with the more limited health disclosures of some predecessors. Francis released medical updates during his hospitalizations, but Leo controlled the initial message himself from the window overlooking the square.

For the moment, the Vatican's calendar continues. Audiences and meetings that do not require the pope's physical presence or signature will proceed. The surgery itself is scheduled for the early part of this week. Leo is expected to remain in hospital for roughly seven days afterward.

The announcement adds a personal note to a papacy that has so far focused on continuity with Francis's priorities on migration, climate and the poor. How the recovery unfolds, and whether the November Latin American trip proceeds on schedule, will be the next concrete test of the pope's health and the Vatican's planning.