Pope Leo to Undergo Lung Surgery

Pope Leo XIV has announced plans to undergo surgery in the coming days after doctors discovered an early-stage nodule on his lung during a medical check-up.

Pope Confirms Planned Operation

The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed the finding during his weekly Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square in Rome on Sunday. He said doctors had identified a well-localised lung nodule and recommended surgery. Pope Leo described the mass as well-contained and detected at an early stage. He said he had accepted his medical team’s recommendation and thanked supporters for their prayers and spiritual support.

Vatican Confirms Surgery Plans

Holy See Press Office spokesperson Matteo Bruni said the operation was scheduled for the first days of the following week. The Pope was expected to need approximately one week to recover. According to Vatican News, the procedure would take place at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, which has a dedicated papal suite established after the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II.

Italian Prime Minister Sends Support

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her personal solidarity with the Pope in a message on X, offering support as he prepared for the operation.

Pope Maintains November Travel Plans

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, succeeded Pope Francis in 2025, becoming the 267th occupant of the papal throne and the first American pope. Ordained in 1982, he spent years serving as a missionary in Peru, where he worked with marginalised communities. Despite the planned surgery, the Pope confirmed that his scheduled November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru would still go ahead.