Pope Leo XIV has announced plans to undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule detected at an early stage.
The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed this during his weekly Angelus address in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, saying medical checks had revealed a localised growth in his lung.
“During recent medical checks, a nodule on my lung was found. It has been detected at a very early stage and is very localised,” he said.
Leo said he had agreed to the procedure following medical advice, adding that the operation had already been scheduled for the coming days.
The Vatican press office said the Pope was expected to require about one week to recover from the operation.
Born in Chicago, Leo became the first American to lead the Catholic Church following the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis, on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. He was elected on May 8, 2025, to lead the world’s estimated 1.4 billion Catholics.
Francis spent several weeks receiving treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where popes traditionally seek medical care.
Since his election, Leo, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, has gradually established his leadership style while addressing major global issues, including armed conflicts and the implications of artificial intelligence.
He has emerged as a prominent critic of the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which began in February. The Pope condemned US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran as “truly unacceptable” and urged Americans to press their lawmakers to work for peace.
Trump subsequently criticised Leo, describing him as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy”. The Pope responded that he had a “moral duty to speak out”.
