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Pope Leo XIV to have surgery this week to remove early-stage lung nodule

Pope Leo XIV, 71, said Sunday that doctors found a small, well-localized nodule in his lung at a very early stage and that he will have surgery to remove it at Rome's Gemelli Hospital early this week, with about a week of recovery expected.

By US Brief desk · Updated 2026-10-11T14:11:00-07:00

AI-assisted · US Brief desk · Sources listed below

Pope Leo XIV in white vestments waving from a balcony at St. Peter's Basilica

What happened

Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule found in his lung. He made the announcement in Italian after leading the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square.

"During some recent medical examinations, doctors found a localized nodule in my lung," the 71-year-old pope said, according to a Vatican News translation. "It was detected at a very early stage and is well localized. The doctors believe surgery is appropriate." He said he had decided to follow their advice, thanked the faithful for their "spiritual closeness" and asked for their prayers.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told reporters the operation is scheduled for the first days of this week at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, the hospital popes have long used, and that the expected postoperative recovery is about one week. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government stood in solidarity with the pope and that the calm with which he spoke was a source of comfort.

Why it matters

Leo leads a church of more than a billion Catholics and is about 17 months into his pontificate, so any surgery on the pope is closely watched for what it means for his schedule, including a major overseas trip less than two months away.

More context

What we know: the nodule was found during recent checkups, the pope himself describes it as early-stage and well-localized, and surgery is set for early this week with roughly a week of recovery.

What's still unknown: the Vatican has not said what kind of operation is planned, whether the nodule is cancerous, or whether further treatment could follow. It is also unclear whether the surgery will affect Leo's planned November trip to South America, which includes Peru and Uruguay. Leo became the first U.S.-born pope in May 2025; his predecessor, Pope Francis, died in 2025 at 88 after a long hospital stay at Gemelli earlier that year.

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Editorial sourcing notes

The Vatican has not said what type of lung surgery is planned or released a diagnosis beyond calling the nodule small, early-stage and well-localized. We will update when it does.

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