Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery for Early-Stage Lung Nodule

Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that doctors have detected a very early-stage nodule in his lung and that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to have it removed. The pontiff made the announcement during a blessing at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

"Recently, during some medical examinations, doctors discovered a well-defined lung nodule, detected at a very early stage and clearly localized," Pope Leo XIV stated. "The doctors consider it appropriate to intervene, and so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to have it removed. The procedure has already been scheduled for the coming days. I thank you and entrust myself to your prayers."

The surgery marks the first reported health concern of the 71-year-old pontiff's tenure. The Vatican press office indicated that the pope's recovery from the surgery is expected to take about a week, though further details on his health were not immediately provided.

Elected pope in May 2025, Leo is relatively young for a Church leader and is known to enjoy sports, including tennis, without prior reported health issues. His predecessor, Pope Francis, died at age 88 and had experienced increasing frailty in his later years.

Despite the upcoming surgery, the pope has a significant trip planned for November, which includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru over two weeks. It remains unclear whether the procedure and subsequent recovery period will impact these travel plans.

A pulmonary nodule is an area of abnormal growth within the lung that can be detected on X-rays and CT scans. While they can stem from various causes, including infections or autoimmune diseases, they are typically not cancerous. The Vatican has stated that the detected nodule is in its earliest stages and is clearly localized.