Pope Leo XIV Announces Surgery to Remove Lung Nodule

In an address to pilgrims in St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV confirmed that a small, well‑contained nodule was discovered on his lung during a routine medical check‑up, and that he will undergo surgery in the coming days.

The pontiff, 71, said the early‑stage lesion was detected on a CT scan and that the decision to operate was made in consultation with his medical team.

The operation, scheduled for the first days of next week at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, is expected to take around a week to recover. The hospital has a dedicated Papal Suite originally set up after the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent messages of solidarity, while Israel’s President Isaac Herzog offered a wish for a speedy recovery.

Pope Leo remains scheduled for his November tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, the Vatican News office stated, and will likely resume duties once healed.

What is a lung nodule? A lung nodule is a small lump of tissue, usually discovered through imaging such as X‑ray or CT scan. Most nodules are benign and do not cause symptoms.