Pope Leo XIV to undergo lung surgery in Vatican City

Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday in Vatican City that he will undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule. The procedure marks the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate. The 71-year-old American pontiff shared the news during his Sunday noon blessing.

Leo stated that doctors detected a circumscribed, localized nodule at an early stage. The Vatican said the expected recovery time will be one week. Surgery will occur in the coming days.

The operation is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The facility contains a private apartment reserved for popes. Vatican officials suggested Leo might miss a Wednesday closing Mass for a family ministry conference.

Leo spoke directly to the gathered crowd in Italian.

Doctors found a circumscribed nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe it’s best to take action, so, following their advice, I have decided to have surgery to remove it.

He thanked the crowd for their support. He also asked for prayers. The pope remains physically active with weekly tennis matches and swimming in Castel Gandolfo.

A planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru remains set for Nov. 6-17. Leo stated Sunday that he still plans to make the journey. He has no previously known medical problems.

A lung nodule is an abnormal area measuring under 3 centimeters across, according to the American Cancer Society. Such findings often happen during scans for infections or trauma. Dr. Stephen Liu of Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center said nodules are common and frequently benign.

Liu stated that surgery offers a clear diagnosis when imaging cannot separate benign spots from cancer. He said early surgical removal offers an excellent prognosis if a nodule proves malignant. Liu noted that one in five lung cancer patients never smoked.

Dr. Dionysis Papadatos-Pastos of The London Clinic said well-circumscribed nodules are less likely to be cancer. However, Papadatos-Pastos emphasized that patients must never ignore a lung nodule. He said the primary duty is to test it promptly.

Italian Association of Medical Oncology President Dr. Massimo Di Maio said doctors must confirm if tissue is malignant. Potential treatments could involve chemotherapy or radiation therapy, Di Maio told Sky TG24. Good baseline fitness helps patients handle such medical care.

Predecessor Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, from a stroke after double pneumonia. Francis had chronic lung illness and had lost part of a lung in his youth. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni issued a statement offering full support to Leo.

A nodule removal involves an inpatient surgical procedure under general anesthesia. Medical teams monitor post-operative healing and conduct laboratory analysis on all extracted tissue. Final pathology results guide subsequent patient care.

Leo remains resting in Vatican City ahead of his scheduled hospital admission this week. Officials have not reported any changes to his daily routine before the operation.