World · Europe · 10 hrs ago
Pope Leo XIV to have surgery to remove an early-detected lung nodule
Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the Catholic Church, says he will have surgery in Rome in the coming days to remove a nodule from his lung.
He said doctors found it during recent medical checks and that it was detected at a very early stage.
The operation is planned at Gemelli Hospital, and the Vatican expects his recovery to take about a week.
Lung nodules can be benign or cancerous, and the information given so far does not establish which this one is.
Removing a nodule can allow doctors to determine what it is.
Leo has a planned trip next month to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, but it is not clear whether surgery will affect those plans.
He has thanked people for their support and asked them to pray for him.
Pope Leo XIV said he will have surgery in the coming days to remove a small, localized nodule from his lung.
He said doctors found the nodule at a very early stage and recommended removing it.
The Vatican said his expected recovery time is about one week.
The operation is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
The sources do not say whether surgery and recovery will affect his planned trip to Latin America in November.
- Who
- Pope Leo XIV, 71, will undergo surgery.
- What
- He will have an operation to remove a small, localized nodule from his lung.
- When
- The operation is scheduled for the first days of the week after his announcement on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
- Why
- Doctors found the nodule at a very early stage and advised removing it.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Leo announced during his Angelus address that he had decided to undergo surgery to remove the nodule.
The surgery is scheduled to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
The Vatican estimated that Leo’s recovery would take about one week.
- Age
- 71
- Nodule
- Small and localized; detected at a very early stage
- Hospital
- Gemelli Hospital, Rome
- Expected recovery
- About one week
- Planned trip
- Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November
What people are saying
It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized.
is scheduled for the first days of this week and the estimated post-operative recovery time will be about one week.
Lung nodules are fairly common and are often benign, but benign and cancerous nodules can have a similar appearance on imaging.
Posts on X
Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo
Wishing His Holiness Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex a successful surgery and a swift, full recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, and we hope he will soon be back in good health and strength. Ukraine is deeply grateful to His Holiness for his prayers and his strong, consistent
Sources
Pope to Undergo Surgery; 4,080 U.S. Measles Cases; Ultrasound Issue Tied to 4 Deaths
Pope Leo XIV to have surgery to remove lung nodule
Pope Leo XIV will have surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule on his lung
Pope Leo XIV Will Undergo Surgery to Remove Nodule in His Lung
Pope Leo XIV says he will be operated on in ‘coming days’ for lung nodule
Vatikan: Papst wird wegen „Knotens in der Lunge“ operiert
Pope Leo to be operated on for lump on lung, one month before visit
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