Pope Leo XIV is to undergo lung surgery in the coming days after doctors discovered a localised nodule during medical checks, the Vatican has said.
The 71-year-old pontiff announced the procedure after Sunday’s Angelus in St Peter’s Square, saying the lesion had been detected “at a very early stage” and was “well localised”.
“The doctors believe surgery is appropriate,” Pope Leo said. “Following their advice, I have therefore decided to undergo an operation to remove it.”
Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesman, said the operation was expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital in the first days of the week. The hospital has a special apartment reserved for popes.
Mr Bruni said the expected post-operative hospital stay was about a week. The Vatican has not released further medical details.
It was not immediately clear whether the Pope Leo XIV lung surgery and subsequent hospital stay would affect his planned visit to Latin America from November 7 to 16.
During his address, the Pope asked for prayers for the trip, with particular reference to Peru.
Pope Leo, who was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, has not previously been known to have health problems. He became pope in 2025.
