Pope Leo XIV to undergo lung surgery next week, Vatican confirms
Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery in the coming days after doctors found a nodule on his lung during a medical check-up, the Vatican has said. The procedure is scheduled for the first days of next week at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed the finding himself on Sunday, speaking to pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square for his weekly Angelus prayer. "The doctors found an early, well-localised nodule on my lung," he said.
He told those present that his medical team "believe it would be right to intervene" and that he had agreed to the operation. He described the growth as "well-contained" and said it had been caught "at an early stage".
Holy See Press Office spokesperson Matteo Bruni later told reporters that the operation would take place in the first days of next week, and that the Pope is expected to need about a week to recover.
Vatican News, the Holy See's news portal, said the surgery will be performed at Gemelli Hospital, which maintains a dedicated papal suite. That suite was set up after the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II and remains in use.
A lung nodule is a small lump of tissue, usually detected during an X-ray or CT scan of the chest, according to the NHS. Most nodules do not cause any other symptoms, and they can have a range of causes. Doctors assess each case individually and decide whether intervention is needed.
The Holy See has not released further clinical details about the nodule or the type of procedure planned. The announcement comes about a year and a half after Pope Leo succeeded the late Pope Francis, who also experienced lung problems that required hospital treatment.
The Pope closed his Angelus address by thanking people for their "spiritual closeness" and said he entrusted himself to their prayers. He also confirmed that his planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November will go ahead.
Archbishop Daniel Sturla of Montevideo said preparations for the tour would continue with "greater enthusiasm", and called for prayers for the Pope's recovery.
Reactions to the news came from across the political spectrum. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her "personal solidarity" with the Pope as he "faces the ordeal ahead in the coming days". Italian President Sergio Mattarella offered his "sincerest wishes for a peaceful recovery and a speedy and full return to health". Israel's President Isaac Herzog also wished the pontiff "a full and speedy recovery".
Pope Leo, born Robert Francis Provost, is the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter and the first citizen of the United States to hold the office. He was ordained in 1982 and spent years as a missionary in Peru, where he is remembered for his work with marginalised communities.
The Vatican has not indicated any change to the Pope's other scheduled engagements beyond the period of recovery outlined by the press office.
