Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery to remove lung nodule

Pope Leo XIV said he will undergo surgery to remove a localised lung nodule after doctors discovered it during medical check-ups.

Speaking to worshippers in St Peter’s Square before the Angelus prayer on Sunday, the 71-year-old pope said the nodule had been detected at a very early stage and was well-defined. He said doctors advised surgery and that he had decided to follow their recommendation.

The procedure is planned for the coming days. A Vatican spokesman said it was scheduled for early next week and that the pope would need a week in hospital to recover.

A lung nodule is a small mass of dense tissue in the lung, and most are non-cancerous.

Leo is generally considered to be in good health and remains physically active, including playing tennis. He has a demanding schedule of meetings and public events, with Tuesdays set aside as a day off at the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo.

The pope is due to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November.