Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery Tuesday to Remove Lung Nodule

Pope Leo XIV will enter Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday for surgery to remove a small nodule from his lung, the Vatican said. The 71-year-old pontiff made the announcement himself during the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.

Leo said doctors detected the nodule during recent medical examinations. It was found at a very early stage and is well-localised. He said he was following their advice to have it removed. The Vatican press office later stated that the operation is scheduled for late Tuesday morning and that recovery is expected to take about one week.

A lung nodule is a small mass of dense tissue. Most are benign, though risk rises with age and other factors. The Vatican has not said whether the nodule is believed to be malignant. The procedure will take place under general anaesthetic at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, which has a dedicated papal suite used by previous pontiffs.

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. Before Sunday’s announcement he had no publicly known health problems. He remains physically active and has played tennis. The Vatican said the nodule was found during routine checks not prompted by symptoms.

Decisions that require the pope’s signature will be placed on hold during his hospital stay. The Vatican will otherwise continue normal operations. Leo has a major trip planned for 6–17 November to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. Officials have not yet said whether the surgery and recovery will affect that itinerary.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the calmness with which Leo spoke during the Angelus was reassuring. Argentina’s bishops’ conference asked Catholics to pray for a successful operation and swift recovery. Leo thanked the crowd for their spiritual closeness and entrusted himself to their prayers.

The announcement was unusual in its directness. Previous popes have often left health details to official statements. Leo chose to deliver the news himself in Italian at one of his most public weekly appearances. The Vatican confirmed that the expected hospital stay is one week, longer than some surgical centres report for early-stage resections performed with robotic assistance.

Gemelli Hospital has treated popes since the time of John Paul II. The papal apartment there includes meeting rooms, a kitchen, rest areas and a small chapel. Medical staff will monitor Leo after the procedure. No further public schedule has been released for the days immediately after the operation.

The surgery marks the first time a pope has personally announced a planned medical procedure of this kind at the Angelus. Its outcome will determine how quickly Leo returns to full public duties and whether the Latin American trip proceeds as planned.