Pope Leo announces he will undergo surgery to remove lung nodule: news
11-10-2026
Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery to Remove Early-Stage Lung Nodule
Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a localized nodule detected in his lung. The 71-year-old pontiff shared the health update directly with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square during his weekly Sunday Angelus address.
Early Detection and Medical Intervention
During routine medical examinations, physicians discovered a small, circumscribed nodular lesion on the Pope’s lung. Pope Leo noted that the nodule was identified at an early stage and remains well-contained.
Following the counsel of his medical team, the Pope agreed that surgical removal was the most prudent course of action. The procedure has been scheduled for the coming days, with the Vatican indicating that recovery is expected to take approximately one week.
Papal Schedule and Public Reaction
Before concluding his address, Pope Leo expressed gratitude to Catholics worldwide for their spiritual closeness and formally requested prayers ahead of the upcoming operation.
Known for maintaining an active lifestyleincluding regular swimming and tennisPope Leo has not previously faced significant health setbacks during his papacy. Church officials currently anticipate that the scheduled surgery will cause minimal disruption to his upcoming apostolic journey to South America planned for November.