Pope Leo XIV will endure surgical procedure to take away a nodule on his lung

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV introduced Sunday he’ll endure surgical procedure within the coming days to take away a nodular lesion on his lung that was just lately found throughout medical checks.

The 71-year-old pope mentioned the lesion was discovered at an early stage and was “circumscribed” or well-localized. The Vatican later mentioned Leo would endure surgical procedure within the first days of the week, with an anticipated restoration time of every week.

The American pope made the announcement throughout his Sunday midday blessing. He thanked the gang for his or her closeness and entrusted himself to their prayers.

Leo has no beforehand identified well being issues and is taken into account bodily energetic, with weekly tennis video games and swimming on the papal summer time retreat in Castel Gandolfo.

The pope has a significant journey deliberate Nov. 6-17 to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It is unclear whether or not the deliberate surgical procedure and restoration would have an effect on the itinerary, however Leo mentioned earlier in his remarks Sunday that he deliberate to go.

In his remarks, delivered in Italian, Leo mentioned throughout a current medical test, “medical doctors discovered a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a really early stage and is circumscribed. The medical doctors consider it is best to take motion, so, following their recommendation, I’ve determined to have surgical procedure to take away it.”

“The surgical procedure is already scheduled for the approaching days. Thanks on your religious help, and I entrust myself to your prayers,” he mentioned.

Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, died April 21, 2025, of a stroke following a protracted hospitalization introduced on by a respiratory disaster that developed into double pneumonia. Francis suffered from persistent lung illness and had a part of one lung eliminated as a younger man.

Leo is predicted to endure surgical procedure at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the place Francis and popes earlier than him have been handled and the place there’s a particular condo for pontiffs.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, among the many few outsiders to go to Francis throughout his lengthy closing hospitalization, expressed her help, and that of the Italian authorities, to Leo “as he faces this problem within the coming days.” In an announcement, she added that “the serenity and calm with which he spoke about it” have been reassuring.

—

Barry reported from Milan.