Pope Leo XIV Schedules Lung Surgery at Rome Hospital

Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a localized nodule on his lung discovered during medical checks at an early stage. The 71-year-old pontiff made the announcement during his Sunday noon blessing in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican and asked for prayers.

The Vatican said the operation is scheduled for the first days of the week at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where popes have previously received medical treatment. The estimated post-operative recovery time is about one week, according to Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni.

Leo said doctors found the nodule during a recent medical examination and recommended removing it. The Vatican has not announced whether the procedure will affect the pope's planned Nov. 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

In his address, Leo explained that the medical finding was detected early and that he decided to follow his doctors' recommendation.

"Doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is circumscribed. The doctors believe it's best to take action, so, following their advice, I've decided to have surgery to remove it," Pope Leo XIV said.

The pope also thanked Catholics for their support before the procedure. He has had no previously known health problems and remains physically active, including playing weekly tennis and swimming at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo.

"The surgery is already scheduled for the coming days. Thank you for your spiritual support, and I entrust myself to your prayers," Pope Leo XIV said.

Medical information from the American Cancer Society states that a lung nodule is a small abnormal area measuring less than or equal to 3 cm that can appear on CT scans of the chest or abdomen. Such findings can be linked to several conditions and are not always cancerous.

The American Thoracic Society says fewer than 5 per cent of lung nodules overall prove cancerous, although risk can increase based on factors including age and nodule size.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed support for the pope as he prepares for surgery, praising the calm manner in which he discussed the medical issue.

"I express the support of the Italian government as he faces this challenge in the coming days," Giorgia Meloni said.

Leo also used his Sunday remarks to address international issues, including the war in Ukraine. He called for safe grain transportation across the Black Sea during his appeal for peace.

"I make a heartfelt appeal to the parties to the conflict to allow the safe transport of grain across the Black Sea. The daily bread of millions of people cannot be held hostage by war," Pope Leo XIV said.

The pope's predecessor, Pope Francis, died April 21, 2025, after a stroke following a long hospitalization caused by a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. Francis had chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed when he was young.