Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery for Lung Nodule

Pope Leo XIV told pilgrims in St Peter’s Square on Sunday that doctors had found a small, localized nodule on his lung during recent medical checks and that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove it.

The 71-year-old American pope said the nodule was detected at a very early stage and is well-contained. “The doctors believe it is advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it,” he said during the Angelus. “The operation is already scheduled for the next few days.”

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that the surgery is set for the first days of this week at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital. Recovery is expected to take about one week. The Vatican has not said whether the nodule is considered malignant.

A lung nodule is a small lesion, typically under three centimetres, that can be benign. The American Thoracic Society notes that fewer than five percent of such nodules prove cancerous, though the risk rises with age and other factors. Leo has no previously reported major health problems and maintains an active routine that includes tennis.

This is the first significant health event of his 17-month pontificate. Leo was elected in May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis, who had suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man. Francis was treated at the same Gemelli Hospital on multiple occasions.

Leo delivered the announcement in Italian from the window of the Apostolic Palace. He thanked those present for their “spiritual closeness” and asked for their prayers. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the calm manner in which he spoke was reassuring and expressed the government’s personal closeness.

The pope’s next major foreign trip is scheduled for 6–17 November to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The Vatican has not indicated whether the surgery and recovery will alter that itinerary. Leo had earlier confirmed he still planned to make the journey.

Gemelli Hospital has a dedicated papal suite that has treated successive popes since John Paul II. Medical staff there are experienced with the specific protocols required for a pontiff. The operation itself is described as routine once the nodule is localized, but any procedure on a head of state carries added logistical layers.

Leo’s predecessor Francis faced repeated respiratory issues in his final years, including extended hospital stays. Leo’s age, 71, is younger than Francis was at the start of his papacy. The current pontiff has spoken publicly about peace in Ukraine and other conflicts during recent addresses, including on Sunday.

The Holy See Press Office has not released further clinical details. No biopsy results or imaging measurements have been made public. The decision to operate rather than monitor reflects standard medical advice for early-stage nodules in patients of Leo’s age.

Pilgrims in the square received the news directly from the pope. Many had travelled for the weekly Angelus. The Vatican will likely issue daily updates once the surgery begins, following the pattern established under previous pontiffs.

The nodule was found during “recent medical examinations,” the precise timing of which has not been specified. Leo continued his public schedule until Sunday’s announcement. The short recovery window of one week suggests doctors expect a straightforward procedure.

Any impact on the November Latin American tour will depend on the post-operative course. The trip includes stops in Leo’s native continent of South America. Vatican officials have not yet commented on contingency plans.

The announcement closes the first major medical chapter of Leo’s papacy. Previous popes have used Gemelli for both elective and emergency care. The hospital’s papal apartment remains available for the duration of the stay.