Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery after nodular lesion found in lung, Vatican says

Key Points:

• Pope Leo XIV, aged 71, will undergo surgery this week to remove a nodular lesion found in his lung, with recovery expected to take about a week, according to the Vatican.
• The lesion was detected at an early and circumscribed stage during recent medical checks, and the pope has requested prayers and spiritual support.
• The surgery is planned to take place at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, though the exact hospitalization date has not been disclosed; the pope intends to maintain his scheduled trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in November.
• Lung nodules are common and often benign, but surgical removal can provide a definitive diagnosis to determine if the lesion is cancerous or not, with treatment options including chemotherapy and radiation if malignancy is found.
• Pope Leo XIV is known to be physically active and has no prior major health issues, which is considered beneficial for recovery; his predecessor, Pope Francis, died in 2025 following complications from chronic lung disease.