Pope Leo XIV to have surgery to remove nodule found on his lung

Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that he will undergo an operation within days to take out a nodule doctors found on his lung, according to PBS NewsHour, which published an Associated Press report. The AP called it the first major health issue of his papacy, now about 17 months old.

The 71-year-old pontiff shared the news at his weekly Angelus prayer in St Peter's Square, BBC News reported. He told the crowd that a recent checkup revealed the growth, that it was caught early and that it is confined to one area. "The doctors believe it's best to take action, so, following their advice, I have decided to have surgery to remove it," Leo said, according to the AP.

Matteo Bruni, a Vatican spokesman, said the procedure is set for early in the coming week and that recovery should take roughly seven days, BBC News reported. The BBC, citing Vatican News, said the operation will be performed at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where a dedicated papal suite is kept.

The AP reported that Vatican officials indicated Leo may not attend a Wednesday Mass marking the end of a family ministry gathering. Both outlets said the pope confirmed that his November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru remains on his schedule.

The AP characterized the announcement as an unusually open disclosure about a pope's health. It contrasted it with the sometimes confusing flow of updates during the illnesses of Pope Francis, Leo's predecessor, who died in April 2025 following an extended hospital stay linked to breathing problems.

Leo has no known prior health conditions, is not known to smoke and stays active with tennis and swimming, the AP reported.

Specialists who have not treated the pope told the AP that such nodules are common and frequently harmless, though surgery can settle whether one is cancerous. Dr. Stephen Liu, a Georgetown University cancer specialist, said an early-stage cancer, if found, would carry a very good prognosis, and that this kind of operation generally carries low risk and allows fast healing.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced her backing for the pope. According to BBC News, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Israeli President Isaac Herzog also sent messages wishing him a complete recovery, and Montevideo Archbishop Daniel Sturla said planning for the papal trip would carry on.

Born Robert Francis Prevost, Leo is the first American to lead the Catholic Church and previously worked for many years as a missionary in Peru, the BBC reported.

Compiled by True News from reporting by PBS NewsHour and BBC News. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/57