Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery for Lung Nodule Detected Early

Pope Leo XIV told pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, 11 October 2026, that doctors had found a small, localized nodule in his lung during recent medical examinations and that he will undergo surgery to remove it in the coming days. He described the nodule as detected at a very early stage and well-contained.

“It was detected at a very early stage and is well-defined. The doctors deem it advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it,” he said during the Angelus. The operation is scheduled for the first days of this week at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital, the facility that has treated previous popes. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the expected post-operative recovery is about one week.

The Vatican has not said whether the nodule is suspected of being malignant. A lung nodule is a small area of dense tissue, typically under three centimetres. Most are benign. The American Thoracic Society notes that fewer than five percent of lung nodules prove cancerous overall, though risk rises with age, size and factors such as smoking history. Leo is 71 and has no previously known serious health problems. He plays tennis and maintains an active schedule.

This is the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate. He was elected in May 2025 as the first US-born pope. During the recovery period the Vatican will continue ordinary functions, but decisions requiring his signature will be held. He has a planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November. He indicated earlier on Sunday that he still intended to travel, though the surgery and recovery could affect the itinerary.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed the government’s support. Lung specialist Stephen Liu of Georgetown University has noted that nodules are fairly common and often benign, and that surgery is sometimes recommended even when cancer is unconfirmed so that tissue can be examined directly.

Leo made the announcement in Italian to the crowd gathered for the weekly blessing. He thanked people for their spiritual closeness and asked for prayers. The procedure follows standard medical advice for a circumscribed lesion found early. No further clinical details have been released.

The immediate consequence is a short pause in the pope’s public activity while ordinary curial work continues. Whether the November Latin American visit proceeds on schedule will depend on the post-operative course and the doctors’ assessment of his readiness to travel.