Pope Leo to have surgery to remove nodule on his lung

Key Points:

• Pope Leo XIV, aged 71, announced he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a small, well-localized nodular lesion on his lung discovered during recent medical checks.
• The Vatican stated the surgery is scheduled for early this week, with an expected recovery time of about one week, and the pope expressed gratitude for public support and prayers.
• Despite the upcoming procedure, Pope Leo plans to proceed with his extensive trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6-17, though it is unclear if the surgery will affect his itinerary.
• The lung nodule was detected at an early stage, and the pope is otherwise healthy and physically active, regularly playing tennis and swimming.
• Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed government support and praised the pope’s calm demeanor regarding the surgery, which is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, a facility with a special apartment for pontiffs.