Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery Following Detection of Lung Nodule
Pope Leo XIV has announced he will undergo surgery in the coming days after doctors discovered an early, well-localised nodule on his lung during a routine check-up.
PothikTV News Desk: 11 October 2026, 11:34 am
Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery in the coming days after medical professionals discovered a nodule on his lung during a recent medical check-up.
Addressing the public during his weekly Sunday prayers in St Peter’s Square in Rome, the 71-year-old pontiff shared details of the diagnosis directly with gathered pilgrims and faithful followers.
“The doctors found an early, well-localised nodule on my lung,” Pope Leo told the crowd. He explained that his medical team believed it would be appropriate to intervene surgically and confirmed that he had agreed to proceed with the operation.
Reassuring those present, the Pope emphasized that the mass was well-contained and caught at an early stage. Concluding his Angelus prayer, he expressed gratitude to everyone for their spiritual closeness and requested continued prayers from the public.
Holy See Press Office spokesperson Matteo Bruni provided additional details to the media regarding the upcoming procedure. Bruni confirmed that the operation is scheduled for the first days of next week.
The Vatican spokesperson added that Pope Leo is expected to require approximately one week to recover following the surgical intervention.
Pope Leo, born Robert Francis Provost, succeeded Pope Francis in 2025. He serves as the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter and holds the distinction of being the first American pope.
Ordained in 1982, he spent many years serving as a missionary in Peru, where he became known for his dedicated work alongside marginalised communities and his efforts to build bridges within the region.
