Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery for lung nodule at Rome hospital

What happened

Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery in the coming days at Rome's Gemelli Hospital to remove a small, early-stage nodule discovered on his lung.

The 71-year-old pontiff announced the procedure during his weekly Sunday Angelus address in St Peter's Square on 11 October, explaining that doctors detected the mass during recent medical check-ups.

"The doctors found an early, well-localised nodule on my lung," Pope Leo told the gathered crowd. "The doctors believe surgery is appropriate. Following their advice, I have therefore decided to undergo an operation to remove it."

He reassured pilgrims that the growth was caught early and is well-contained, asking for their prayers as he prepares for the procedure.

Surgery schedule and recovery

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, confirmed that the operation is scheduled for the first days of the week.

Bruni said the estimated post-operative recovery time will be about one week. The intervention will take place at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, which houses a dedicated suite for papal medical care.

Pope Leo expressed his gratitude to the faithful, adding: "I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers."

Impact on papal schedule

The Vatican has not said whether the operation and subsequent recovery will alter the Pope's planned international travel. He is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru between 6 November and 17 November.

During his address on Sunday, Pope Leo asked for prayers for his upcoming visit to Peru, where he served for many years as a missionary before his election.

Born Robert Francis Provost, Pope Leo XIV became the 267th Bishop of Rome in 2025, succeeding Pope Francis as the first American pontiff. He has no prior history of major illness and has kept an active schedule, regularly playing tennis and swimming at Castel Gandolfo.