Pope Leo XIV has announced plans to undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule discovered in his lung during recent medical examinations.
The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed the development on Sunday while delivering his weekly Angelus address to worshippers gathered at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
He explained that the growth had been detected at an early stage and was localised, adding that his medical team had advised him to undergo surgery to remove it.
“The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days,” the pope said in a statement published on the Vatican News website, the official news service of the Holy See.
Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press office, said the procedure was expected to take place early in the week. He added that the pope would likely spend about one week recovering after the operation.
A lung nodule, also known as a pulmonary nodule, is a small mass of tissue in the lung that may appear as a white spot on a chest X-ray or computed tomography scan.
Following his announcement, Leo thanked worshippers for their support and prayers as he prepares for the medical procedure.
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The planned surgery comes ahead of the pope’s scheduled pastoral visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
It remains uncertain whether the operation will affect the trip, as no decision on any possible change to the schedule has been announced.
Leo was elected head of the Catholic Church in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis. He made history as the first American to become pope.