Pope Leo XIV Plans Surgery to Remove Lung Nodule

Pope Leo XIV said Sunday, October 11, that he will undergo surgery to remove a localized nodule in his lung, after doctors found it during recent medical examinations. The Vatican said the procedure was scheduled for the first days of the week beginning October 12, with postoperative recovery expected to take about one week. Leo announced the decision during his weekly Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square. He said doctors had detected the nodule at a very early stage and advised surgery. He decided to have it removed, he said, and thanked those gathered for their support. Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said the operation was planned at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The Vatican did not announce an exact day, and information available Sunday did not confirm that the procedure had taken place. The expected week of recovery refers to the period after surgery; the Vatican had not specified when Leo would resume his regular duties. The Vatican has not disclosed a specific diagnosis or said whether the nodule is benign or malignant.