Pope Leo XIV has announced plans to undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a small nodule discovered in his lung during recent medical examinations.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 71-year-old pontiff disclosed this on Sunday, October 11, 2026, during his weekly Angelus address to worshippers gathered in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
The Pope said the growth was detected at a very early stage and was well localised. He added that his doctors had recommended surgery to remove it.
“The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days,” he said.
Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said the procedure was expected to take place early in the week, with the pontiff anticipated to require approximately one week for post-operative recovery.
However, the Vatican has not disclosed whether the nodule is benign or malignant, and no diagnosis of cancer has been announced.
A lung nodule is a small area of abnormal tissue in the lung that can be detected during medical imaging. Such growths can have several causes, including infections and inflammation, and are not necessarily cancerous.
Pope Leo, who was elected leader of the Catholic Church in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis, thanked worshippers for their support and prayers ahead of the operation.
The planned surgery comes as the pontiff prepares for a pastoral visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru scheduled for November 6 to 17. It remains unclear whether the procedure and recovery period will affect the planned trip.
The announcement marks a health concern for the American-born pontiff, who leads the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Further information about the outcome of the surgery is expected from the Vatican.
