Pope Leo XIV has said that he would have surgery in the next few days to remove a lung lesion that was discovered early by medical professionals.
During his weekly speech in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, the 71-year-old pope made the announcement. “A nodule on my lung was discovered during recent medical examinations. It is extremely localized and was discovered at a very early stage, he said.
He clarified that he had chosen to heed the doctors’ advice to intervene. “The procedure is already scheduled for the next few days,” he stated.
After the pope spoke during his Angelus prayers, the Vatican press office said the surgery was expected within the next few days, with a recovery time of about one week. The operation will take place at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, which has frequently treated popes since John Paul II.
The Vatican has not said whether the surgery and recovery will affect the pope’s schedule of international trips. He is next due to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
Meloni voices support
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement that the “calmness with which he spoke during today’s Angelus reassures us.” She expressed her personal closeness, and that of the Italian government, to the pope as he faces the coming days.
Chicago-born Leo became the first US pope after the death of his Argentine predecessor, Francis, on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. He was elected leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8, 2025. Born Robert Francis Prevost, he is seen as less ebullient than Francis but has gradually put his own stamp on the leadership of the Church, taking on pressing global issues from armed conflicts to artificial intelligence.
After the US and Israel launched a war against Iran in February, the pope became a prominent critic of the conflict. He called US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran “truly unacceptable” and urged Americans to demand that their lawmakers “work for peace.” Trump hit back, calling the pontiff “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” Leo replied that he had a “moral duty to speak out.”