Pope Leo XIV has announced he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodular lesion on his lung. The 71-year-old pontiff stated the nodule was discovered during recent medical checks and was found at an early, well-localised stage.
The Vatican later confirmed the surgery is scheduled for the first days of this week, with an expected recovery period of one week. Pope Leo XIV made the announcement during his Sunday noon blessing, thanking the crowd for their support.
The American Cancer Society describes a lung nodule as a small abnormal area under 3cm that can appear on CT scans, sometimes during investigations for trauma or infection unrelated to cancer screening. Pope Leo XIV is considered physically active and has no previously known health problems.
It is currently unclear if the surgery and recovery will affect his planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from 6-17 November, although he stated on Sunday that he still plans to go. The surgery is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.