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Pope Leo says will undergo surgery for small growth on lung

Doctors found the growth during routine checks, and the Vatican said recovery is expected to take about one week.

  • On Sunday, October 11, 2026, Pope Leo XIV announced he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule discovered during recent medical checks at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.
  • Discovered during recent medical examinations, the localized nodule is 'circumscribed' and well-contained; Leo described the finding during his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, noting doctors recommended immediate intervention.
  • Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni stated the procedure is expected early next week, with an estimated one-week recovery period; officials have not released further medical details regarding the nodule's precise nature.
  • Uncertainty surrounds the pontiff's planned November 6-17 diplomatic tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, as it remains unclear whether the surgery will force itinerary changes; the Vatican has not addressed potential impact.
  • The 71-year-old Chicago-born pontiff maintains an active lifestyle with weekly tennis and swimming, contrasting sharply with his predecessor Pope Francis, who faced significant health challenges during his final years before dying at age 88.
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The head of the Catholic Church wanted to be reassuring, insisting on the limited nature of the lesion and its detection at an early stage

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Pope Leo XIV presents an early pulmonary nodule.

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NBC LA broke the news in Los Angeles, United States on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
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