Pope Leo XIV to Have Lung Nodule Removed This Week

Pope Leo XIV told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove an early-stage nodule found on his lung.

“Recently, during some medical tests, doctors discovered a localized nodule in my lung,” the 71-year-old American pontiff said in Italian during his weekly noon prayer address. “It was detected at a very early stage and is well localized.”

“The doctors believe it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to have it removed,” he said, asking those present for their prayers. “I entrust myself to your prayers.”

A lung nodule is a small abnormal growth, typically under an inch across, that can show up on a chest CT scan performed for reasons unrelated to cancer, such as checking for trauma or infection, according to the American Cancer Society.

The surgery will take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The facility has kept a dedicated papal suite in operation since it was built for Pope John Paul II following the 1981 assassination attempt on his life, and that suite will be used for Leo’s post-operative recovery.

Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, told reporters the operation is scheduled for “the first days of this week” and that doctors expect roughly a week of recovery afterward.

Leo has no previously disclosed health conditions and is known for staying active, including weekly tennis matches and swimming at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. He has a two-week trip planned for November to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, though it is not yet clear whether the surgery will affect those travel plans.

His predecessor, Pope Francis, who died at 88, had part of one lung removed as a young man and battled chronic lung disease through a long and increasingly frail final period.

World leaders offer support

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of the few outside visitors allowed to see Francis during his final hospitalization, said she and her government supported Leo “as he faces this challenge in the coming days,” adding that “the serenity and calm with which he spoke about it” were reassuring.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella offered “my sincerest wishes for a peaceful recovery and a speedy and full return to health.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog also wished the pope “a full and speedy recovery.”