Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery for lung nodule
publishers 50articles 57first reported 30 Sep, 09:01 UTCdeveloping since 30 Sep · 30 editions
Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that he will undergo surgery this week to remove a small nodule from his lung after doctors discovered it during recent medical examinations.
Speaking to pilgrims during his weekly noon prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the 71-year-old pontiff said the growth had been detected at a very early stage and was “well contained.” The Vatican did not say whether it was believed to be malignant. Its press office said the procedure was planned for the first days of the week and that recovery was expected to take about a week.
The operation is the first publicly disclosed health scare since Leo was elected in May 2025. The American pope has no previously known health problems and is physically active, including playing tennis and swimming.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed support for Leo and said the composure with which he announced the procedure was reassuring.
Leo is scheduled to make an 11-day trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17. His Argentina itinerary includes Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján, where he is due to celebrate Mass outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján on Nov. 11. The Vatican has not announced any change to the trip because of the surgery.
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Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 266 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- This version written
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