Pope Leo says will undergo surgery for small growth on lung
Doctors found the nodule at an early stage, and the Vatican said recovery is expected to take about a 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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Pope Leo XIV announced during the Angelus that he had a lump in the lung, identified at an early stage during some medical investigations. The surgery to remove it is already scheduled in the next few days. The article The Pope: "I have a lump in the lung, I will operate" comes from The Truth.
Chicago Sun Times
BizTocPope Leo to undergo lung surgery
<p>VATICAN CITY — <a class="Link" href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv" target="_blank" >Pope Leo XIV</a> announced Sunday he will undergo surgery this week to remove a nodular lesion on his lung, in the first major health event of <a class="Link" href="https://apnews.com/article/conclave-pope-francis-cardinals-vatican-d7991a37a679f09792ed220cc1f6bbed" target="_blank" >his 17-month pontificate.</a></p><p>The 71-year-old Leo said the nodule …
Pope Leo XIV is preparing for surgery in the coming days after doctors discovered a tumor in his lung, which he confirms was detected in its early stages.
Pope Leo XIV (71) surprised everyone on Sunday in St. Peter's Square with a striking announcement: he has to undergo surgery to have a lump removed from his lung. The news comes unexpectedly, as the American Pope is, as far as is known, in good health. Pulmonologist Karim Vermaelen (UZ Ghent) explains exactly what such a lump means and how invasive the operation is.
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