Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery for Early-Stage Lung Nodule
Pope Leo XIV announced after the Sunday Angelus that doctors found a well-localized lung nodule in a very early phase and that he will have surgery in the coming days, with about a week of postoperative hospitalization.
Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule discovered in one of his lungs, the pontiff announced after the Sunday Angelus from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square. The Vatican said the intervention is scheduled for the first days of next week and that the pope is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately one week after the operation.
Speaking to the faithful gathered below, the pope said the nodule had been found during recent medical checks and was detected in a very early phase and well localized. He explained that the doctors treating him considered it advisable to intervene and that, following their advice, he had decided to have the nodule removed in the coming days. «I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers. Thank you and have a good Sunday,» he told the crowd, appearing calm.
The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, confirmed the timing in a brief statement, saying the operation is planned for the first days of the coming week and that the expected postoperative hospital stay is about one week. The announcement leaves open questions about the pope's immediate schedule, including whether the surgery will affect a planned apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru set for November 6 to 17.
Before revealing the diagnosis, the pope greeted members of the Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles in Rome, a devotion with deep roots in Peru, and assured them he would travel to the Andean country. «Thank you for your prayers for the pastoral visit I will carry out in Peru,» he said. The Vatican has not specified whether the intervention will alter the pope's international agenda.
Leo XIV, who turned 71 on September 14, was elected pope on May 8, 2025, becoming the first American to lead the Catholic Church. He holds Peruvian nationality as well, having served for many years as a missionary and bishop in the country, a background that gives his planned visit to Peru particular significance. The trip, which would also take him to Uruguay and Argentina, is among the most closely watched items on his near-term calendar.
The announcement came at the end of the traditional Sunday Angelus, a moment when the pope normally addresses pilgrims and visitors in St. Peter's Square. His decision to disclose the diagnosis personally, rather than through a formal medical bulletin, underscored the transparency he has sought in communicating with the faithful. The nodule's early detection and well-defined location were presented as reasons for a favorable prognosis, though the Vatican did not release further clinical details.
For the roughly 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, the news focuses attention on the health of a relatively new pontiff and on the practical question of how a week-long hospitalization will affect the governance of the Church and his planned travel. The Vatican has said only that the surgery is scheduled for the first days of next week and that recovery is expected to take about a week, leaving the November trip's status to be determined in the days ahead.
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