Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Pope Leo XIV to have surgery to remove early-stage lung nodule
Pope Leo XIV has said he will have surgery this week to remove a small nodule found in his lung during recent medical tests.
He said doctors found it at a very early stage and advised removing it.
A lung nodule is a small area of tissue, and finding one does not by itself mean a person has cancer.
Doctors have not said whether the pope’s nodule is cancerous or what type of surgery he will have.
The Vatican says the operation is scheduled for the first days of this week, with about a week of recovery in hospital.
The surgery is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where popes receive medical care.
The Vatican will continue operating, but decisions requiring the pope’s input or signature will be put on hold while he recovers.
His November trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru may be affected, but it is not yet clear whether it will go ahead as planned.
Pope Leo XIV said he will undergo surgery to remove a small, localized nodule in his lung.
He said doctors found the nodule during recent medical examinations and that it was detected at a very early stage.
The Vatican said the operation was scheduled for the first days of the week, with an estimated recovery of about one week.
The sources do not say whether the nodule is cancerous.
Leo has a major trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru scheduled for November, but it is unclear whether the surgery will affect it.
- Who
- Pope Leo XIV.
- What
- He plans to have surgery to remove a small, localized nodule in his lung.
- When
- He announced the surgery on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The operation was scheduled for the first days of the following week.
- Where
- The nodule was found in his lung. NPR reported that the surgery was due to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
- Why
- Doctors recommended surgery, and Leo said he decided to proceed following their advice.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized
the operation is scheduled for the first days of this week and the estimated post-operative recovery time will be about one week
When doctors decide to proceed directly to surgery rather than first obtaining a biopsy, it can suggest a higher level of concern on the lung scan
Doctors found a small, localized nodule in Leo’s lung.
Leo announced that he would undergo surgery after doctors recommended removing the nodule.
The Vatican said the operation was scheduled, with an estimated recovery of about one week.
Leo was scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, though it was unclear whether surgery would affect the trip.
- Nodule
- Small and localized; detected at a very early stage
- Planned surgery
- First days of the week after October 11, 2026
- Estimated recovery
- About one week
- Reported hospital
- Gemelli Hospital, Rome
- Scheduled November trip
- Uruguay, Argentina and Peru
Sources
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