Pope Leo XIV has announced plans to undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule detected during recent medical examinations.
The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed the development during his weekly Angelus address at St Peter’s Square on Sunday. He said doctors discovered the nodule at a very early stage and described it as highly localised.
According to the pope, his medical team recommended surgery to remove the growth. He said the procedure had been scheduled for the coming days.
Vatican Says Pope’s Recovery May Take One Week
Following the announcement, the Vatican press office said the pope was expected to need about one week to recover from the operation.
Leo said he had decided to follow his doctors’ advice after they assessed the results of his recent medical checks. He did not provide further details about the nature of the nodule.
The announcement has drawn attention to the health of the head of the Catholic Church, who leads a global community of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics.
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Pope Leo XIV Became First American Pontiff in 2025
Born in Chicago, Leo XIV became the first American pope when the Catholic Church elected him on May 8, 2025.
He succeeded Pope Francis, who died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. Francis had spent several weeks receiving treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital during his final period of illness.
Leo, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, has gradually established his own approach to leading the Church since his election.
His public interventions have addressed several major international issues, including armed conflicts and the growing influence of artificial intelligence.
Pope Leo Speaks Out on International Conflicts
The pontiff has also attracted attention for his comments on the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
He criticised US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran, describing the threat as unacceptable. Leo also urged Americans to press their elected representatives to work towards peace.
Trump subsequently criticised the pope, describing him as weak on crime and poor on foreign policy.
In response, Leo maintained that he had a moral duty to speak out on issues affecting peace and human welfare.
The planned surgery comes as the pope continues his duties as leader of the Catholic Church. The Vatican has indicated that his recovery from the procedure is expected to take approximately one week.
